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Territorial defense battalions (Ukrainian: Батальйо́ни територіа́льної оборо́ни) are volunteer paramilitary groups created in Ukraine to combat Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic insurgents, as well as regular Russian troops who later joined the conflict during the War in Donbass.

At the beginning of the conflict the military and police forces of Ukraine were largely ineffective in combating pro-Russian separatist forces, often surrendering equipment or getting slowed down in cities by large crowds. Pro-Russian insurgents quickly gained large swaths of territory due to the lack of action by the Ukrainian government forces; which in turn allowed for an even greater inflow of insurgents from Russia as Ukraine quickly lost control of the border. Due to the ineffectiveness of the Ukrainian armed forces various resistance groups started to form in order to combat the advancing pro-Russian insurgents. These groups designated themselves as territorial defense battalions and generally derive their name from the area in which the majority of their recruits come from. Most of the units fall under the command of the Interior Ministry or the Ministry of Defense, however most territorial battalions are largely autonomous, some receiving funding from various donors, and are united by the principle of wanting to preserve a united Ukraine and drive out the pro-Russian insurgents, that being said some battalions fall directly under the command of one of the ministries of Ukraine and are effectively an all volunteer unit of the agency. Over 5,600 volunteers have joined defense battalions across Ukraine in order to combat Russian separatists.

The various territorial defense battalions are not to be confused with the units such as "Omega," "Jaguar," or "Bars" which are Spetsnaz special forces units of Ukraine. While the aforementioned units are all regular forces of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine, territorial defense battalions formed from various volunteers who wished to resist Russian occupation of Ukraine, volunteers weren't required to have prior military training to join and therefore at the beginning of the conflict they had minimal time to train and equip themselves. Battalions were also not armed with armor or tanks at the start of the conflict, however some units managed to capture and repair heavy equipment from enemy units.

List of battalions

Aidar Battalion

Named after the Aidar River on the border of Ukraine and Russia the battalion was one of the first units to actively resist pro-Russian advances in the Luhansk oblast. The unit is headed by Serhiy Melnychuk and is composed of volunteers from all over Ukraine with various backgrounds, from recent Euromaidan participants to Ukrainians who participated in the Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan.

Artemivsk Battalion

Azov Battalion

Named after the Sea of Azov the unit was created in Mariupol which is a major coastal city and operates as the capital of Donetsk Oblast due to the occupations of Donetsk by insurgents. The unit was one of the first battalions to form and begin to resist the Russian Separatists playing a large role in the liberation of Mariupol. The battalion is mostly composed of Russian speaking volunteers from Eastern Ukraine and is headed by Andriy Biletsky.

Batkivshchyna Battalion

Named after (and funded by) the political party with the same name as part of its "Resistance movement" and based in Kirovohrad Oblast.

Bogdan Battalion

Originating from Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine and meaning "Blessed" the battalion was formed on July 12, 2014 making it one of the newer units of the volunteer self-defense battalions. Unlike the first volunteer units formed to resist pro-Russian fighters such as the Aidar and Donbass battalions Bogdan battalion is largely composed of volunteers from central Ukraine where the threat of insurgency was not seen as substantial.

Chernihiv Battalion

Dnipro Battalion

Also known as Dnepr-1 it was one of the first units to form and originated in Dnipropetrovsk. As Crimea was annexed and the pro-Russian insurgency began in eastern Ukraine it was believed that Dnipropetrovsk, a large Russian speaking city, would be quick to fall. Moreover paratroopers of the 25th Airborne Brigade surrendered their equipment and retreated to Dnipropetrovsk on buses when tasked with engaging pro-Russian insurgents in Donetsk. This prompted governor Ihor Kolomoyskyi and Dnipropetrovsk mayor Ivan Kulichenko to quickly organize a defense for the city, also volunteer units began to form funded by various charities and oligarchs forming the Dnipro Battalion. The Dnipro Battalion has been fighting Russian insurgents in Luhansk and Donetsk oblast since its creation. Due to being one of the first units to form and the unit's proximity to the Donbass volunteers often received minimal training before deploying to engage insurgents. The battalion is subordinate to the Interior Ministry of Ukraine.

Donbas Battalion

The most well known and first volunteer battalion to form to resist Russian insurgents in the Donbas. The unit was conceived and is headed by Semen Semenchenko, an ethnic Russian. It formed from local ethic Russian volunteers of the Donbass region who disagreed with the separatist philosophy and wished to remain part of Ukraine but were dissatisfied with the inaction of Ukrainian government forces in the area. In effect it is an analog of the separatist formed Vostok Battalion which formed from ethnic Russians fighting for separatism.

Since its formation the unit became much more diverse accepting volunteers from all over Ukraine and foreign nations into their ranks, however ethnic Russians still make up the majority of the unit. The unit is one of the largest volunteer battalions in Ukraine with nearly 1,000 members and has participated in most major battles since the start of the War in Donbas. The unit also aided in the defense of Mariupol when Russian forces invaded through Novoazovsk, the battalion sent several tank destroyers to slow the Russian advance. The offensive toward Mariupol was halted near Shyrokyne and Bezimenne. The unit suffered heavy losses when Russia sent its regular forces into Ukraine in late August, encircling parts of Ukrainian forces by taking their flank as they were battling separatists.

In September 2014 the unit was reorganized into a Regiment the bulk of which consisted of a 700 man Battalion Tactical Group. The Ministry of Defense stated that the unit would be armed with tanks and armored personnel carriers. A Spetsnaz unit within the battalion was also formed.

Donetsk-1 Battalion

Donetsk-2 Battalion

Ivano-Frankivsk Battalion

Kharkiv-1 Battalion

An all volunteer territorial defense battalion established in Kharkiv Ukraine in April 2014. The unit is largely made of volunteers from Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts. Unlike other volunteer territorial defense units who function with great autonomy and are only associated with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine by their oath Kharkiv battalion it is directly controlled by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Kharkiv Battalion has aided in disrupting the northern advance of Russian separatists toward the Kharkiv oblast.

Kharkiv-2 Battalion

Kherson Battalion

Kirovohrad Battalion

Kremenchuk Battalion

Formed from volunteers in the Poltava Oblast the battalion is named after the city of Kremenchuk and was created as a detachment of the Poltava Battalion, but eventually operated as a separate entity. Kremenchuk contains one of Ukraine's largest industrial bases accounting for 7% of GDP of the entire nation, it is also home to the largest, and the only functioning oil refinery in Ukraine. Kremenchuk's factories are not only a vital economic source but are responsible for producing vital vehicles used by Ukraine's armed forces such as the Kraz truck and the Cougar armored transport. The city is also located near the largest hydroelectric dam in Ukraine. Due to the strategic importance of the city Russian insurgents were active in attempting to sabotage the city's political and economic status quo. The mayor of the city, Oleh Babayev was assassinated on July 26, 2014. The Kremenchuk detachment of the Poltava Battalion was formed to safeguard the city from terrorist attacks such as the assassination of the mayor and guard vital infrastructure. However, the unit has been deployed to the Donbass in order to combat Russian separatists.

Kryvbas Battalion

Kyiv-1 Battalion

Kyiv-2 Battalion

Kyivshchyna Battalion

Kyivska Rus Battalion

Luhansk-1 Battalion

Lviv Battalion

Formed in the western city of Lviv the unit is largely composed of Ukrainian speakers, although all volunteers are free to join. The battalion is composed of 150 volunteers and was officially deployed in July 2014. The battalion is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and not the Ministry of Defense as it functions as a special police unit, all members are also lawful police officers of Ukraine. Volunteers must possess prior military experience and have received 3 months training before being deployed.

Maidan Battalion

On 1 September 2014 NGOs involved in the Euromaidan-protests announced their intention to create its own territorial battalion subordinated to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This announcement was made at a meeting of representatives of "Ukrainian Coordinating Council Maidan", that included representatives of Automaidan and Right Sector.

Early May 2014 a similar announcement was made.

Mariupol Battalion

Created on 3 September 2014 by Mariupol's City Council during the (nearby the city) pro-Russian separatists August 2014 counter-offensive of the War in Donbass. The battalion is financed from the city budget.

The battalion was not created to battle the pro-Russian separatists but to "counteract subversive groups" and to man roadblocks.

Myrnyi Battalion

Myrotvorets Battalion

Poltava Battalion

Formed from volunteers in the Poltava Oblast in central Ukraine the unit is composed of about 150 volunteers. The unit was deployed to aid Ukraine's Anti Terrorist Operation in July 2014 after 2 months of training.

Prykarpattya Battalion

An all volunteer unit largely composed of members from the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine and cities of Ivano-Frankivsk and Uzhhorod numbering around 500 people. The unit is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Unlike other volunteer battalions the unit's main mission is to keep peace in its home region and not anti-terror operations. The unit's main mission is to protect critical facilities, ensure communication, guard the state border, and assist public and military authorities in western Ukraine. Zakarpattia Oblast is the least populated region of Ukraine, therefore deploying troops away from the area would leave it understaffed, the battalion is meant to assist authorities while regular police and military troops are deployed.

Shakhtar Battalion

Formed from volunteers in the Donbass area the unit derives its name from the numerous mines in the area as well as the Donetsk area's football club. The unit had its oath taking ceremony on 8 July 2014 and began actively resisting Russian separatists in the area.

Shakhtarsk Battalion

Shtorm Battalion

Sich Battalion

Also known as the Sich Special Volunteer Battalion, named after the Sich of the Zaporozhian Cossacks is an all volunteer unit from Kyiv. It was deployed in August 2014 making it the newest defense battalion, it is also the smallest unit composed of 50 volunteers. All volunteers are required to have a military background and the unit was designed for anti-terror operations since its inception.

Sicheslav Battalion

Skif Battalion

Formed from volunteers in Zaporizhia it is an all volunteer special police detachment designed to combat terrorism and is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Although it is a law enforcement unit all volunteers are capable of joining and police training is not required.

Slobozhanshchyna Battalion

Sumy Battalion

Svityaz Battalion

Svyatyi Mykolai Battalion

Formed in May from volunteers out of the Mykolaiv area of Ukraine. Much like Dnipropetrovsk Mykolaiv was predicted to be the next city under threat from pro-Russian insurgents due to it being a Russian speaking city and its proximity to Crimea. The unit was first used in the Mykolaiv area setting up road blocks to slow separatist entry into the region, however by July it was deployed to Donbas in order to take a more active role in the ongoing War in Donbas aiding other volunteer battalions as well as the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ternopil Battalion

Ukraine Battalion

Vinnytsia Battalion

Zaporizhia Battalion

Created on 8 September 2014 by Zaporizhia Oblast and subordinate to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. Civil servants of Zaporizhia Oblast co-lead the battalion. The battalion will be deployed in Zaporizhia Oblast. According to Zaporizhia Oblast Governor Valeriy Baranov the Zaporizhia Battalion will be the first of its kind to receive tanks.

Zoloti Vorota Battalion

References

1. Ayres, Sabra (June 29, 2014). "The Donbass Battalion prepares to save Ukraine from separatists". Aljazeera America.
2. ^ http://poltavska.info/4534-batalyon-poltava-rota-kremenchuk-boryatsya-za-mir.html
3. Thompson, Leroy (July 29, 2014). "An Inside Look at Ukraine's Top Warriors". tactical life.
4. Zinevych, Solomiya (June 24, 2014). "Aydar Batallion ready to fight even as unit's future remains unclear". Kvivpost.
5. http://italian.ruvr.ru/news/2014_06_24/Nel-comando-dellesercito-ucraino-traditori-aiutano-i-separatisti-filorussi-8559/
6. "Ukrainian troops drive rebels out of Mariupol". USA Today. June 13, 2014.
7. Template:Uk icon Promised REMEDIES TRANSFORMATION 34 BATTALION territorial defense, Kirovohrad Oblast Council (26 July 2014)
8. http://rss.novostimira.com/n_6430599.html
9. "Turchynov Tells Defence Ministry Disestablish 25th Brigade Of Air Assault Forces". Ukranian News. April 17, 2014.
10. "The Town Determined to Stop Putin". The Daily Beast. June 12, 2014.
11. Shynkarenko, Oleg (June 26, 2014). "Volunteers Bolster Ukraine's Fighting Force". Institute for War and Peace Reporting.
12. "Donbas battalion sends groups of tank destroyers to stop armored vehicles that crossed into Ukraine near Novoazovsk". Kyiv Post. 25 Aug 2014.
13. "Anti-govt forces 'circle 1000s of Kiev troops, capture 2 tank battalions' in E.Ukraine". RT. 25 Aug 2014.
14. "Батальон "Донбасс" преобразован в батальонно-тактическую группу". Liga.
15. http://www.theinsider.ua/politics/5383631a0afc9/
16. http://vesti.ua/harkov/53880-bronezhilety-dlja-soldat-iz-harkova-pokupajut-roditeli
17. http://www.select-a-room.com/view/ukraine/kremenchug
18. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/07/26/uk-ukraine-crisis-mayor-idUKKBN0FV08B20140726
19. "More than 200 men voluntarily joined the battalion "Lviv"". ukrstream.tv.
20. ^ Template:Uk icon Activists Maidan create own Battalion, Ukrayinska Pravda (1 September 2014)
21. Maidan activists setting up volunteer battalion, Kyiv Post (7 May 2014)
22. ^ Template:Uk icon In Mariupol created their own territorial defense battalion, Ukrayinska Pravda (3 September 2014)
23. http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/poltava/uk/publish/article/141168;jsessionid=7746506509A17B9D58A66E475F00746A
24. http://zakarpattya.net.ua/Partiji/124274-Zakarpattsiv-zaklykaiut-vstupaty-v-batalion-terytorialnoi-oborony
25. http://espreso.tv/news/2014/07/27/batalyon_shakhtar_zatrymav_mera_stakhanova
26. http://www.informator.su/dobrovolchiy-batalyon-shahtar-prosit-dopomogi-v-pridbanni-medikamentiv/
27. http://www.ukrinform.ua/rus/news/batalon_sich_otpravilsya_v_zonu_ato_1660470
28. http://www.5.ua/ukrajina/suspilstvo/item/388731-bataljon-skif-prokhodit-ostanni-vishkoli-pered-vidpravlennyam-na-skhid
29. http://ukrain.bazaza.net/207349/
30. https://news.pn/en/politics/103423
31. ^ Template:Uk icon Zaporizhia Oblast will create a new battalion of heavy machinery, Ukrayinska Pravda (8 September 2014)

• Articles with bare URLs for citations from August 2014
• Territorial defence battalions of Ukraine
• Special police detachments in Ukraine
• 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
• Paramilitary forces of Ukraine
• War in Donbass