Donbas Battalion

Donbas Battalion
2-й батальйон спеціального призначення НГУ "Донбас"
Battalion emblem
Founded2014 (2014)
Country Ukraine
Branch National Guard of Ukraine
Size900[1]
Part of18th Sloviansk Brigade
Garrison/HQSeverodonetsk (until the Battle of Sievierodonetsk (2022))
Nickname(s)Men in Black, Little Black Men
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant colonel Oleksandr Polishchuk
Notable
commanders		Semen Semenchenko[2]
Insignia
Battalion flag

The Donbas Battalion (Ukrainian: 2-й батальйон спеціального призначення НГУ "Донбас", romanized: 2-i batalion spetsialnoho pryznachennia NHU "Donbas") is a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and formerly based in Severodonetsk. It was created in 2014 as a volunteer unit (Ukrainian: Батальйон Донбас, romanized: Batalion Donbas) by Semen Semenchenko after the Russian occupation of Crimea and an anticipated invasion of continental Ukraine. The unit was formed in the spring during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine.[2][3][4] The unit was initially formed as an independent force, but has been fully integrated into the National Guard as the 2nd Special Purpose Battalion "Donbas" in the 15th Regiment of the National Guard.[5]

The battalion was initially formed by Russian-speaking Ukrainians from the Donbas who opposed the separatist movement.[6] It is one of the most notable volunteer battalions, recognized as a highly-effective combat unit during the war in Donbas.[7] The battalion is known for its balaclavas to hide their identity from pro-Russian sympathizers and to create a sense of mystery and fear.[7] The balaclavas and (occasionally) black fatigues led to the nicknames "Men in Black" or "Little Black Men", a Ukrainian analogue of the Russian "Little Green Men".[7][8][9]

Anatoliy Vynohrodskyi, a veteran of the former volunteer battalion, announced his intention to revive a volunteer battalion outside the National Guard in October 2016.[10] The new volunteer battalion was never created, but Vynohradskyi became a leaders of the trade blockade with the Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine in January 2017.[11]

  1. ^ "Volunteers Bolster Ukraine's Fighting Force". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Батальон "Донбасс" станет частью Нацгвардии – Семенченко". ЛIГА.Новости. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. ^ Rachkevych, Mark (23 May 2014). "Ukrainian Donbas Battalion ambushed in Donetsk Oblast village; at least five killed". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. ^ Miller, Christopher J. (14 May 2014). "Volunteer Donbass Battalion takes up arms to defend Ukraine, defeat separatists". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  5. ^ Walker, Shaun; Amos, Howard (15 May 2014). "Ukraine civil war fears mount as volunteer units take up arms". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Батальон "Донбасс" станет частью Нацгвардии - Семенченко". LIGA (in Russian). 29 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Ayres, Sabra (29 June 2014). "The Donbass Battalion prepares to save Ukraine from separatists". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  8. ^ Käihkö, Ilmari (21 March 2018). "The War Between People in Ukraine". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  9. ^ "'Men in black', the new defenders of Ukraine, announce mission to liberate Southeastern Ukraine from Russian terrorists". Euromaidan Press. 28 April 2014.
  10. ^ Сергей Гармаш (23 November 2016). "Экс-комбат "Донбасса": "Мы не хотим иметь дело с этими козлами и вместе с Добровольческой армией Яроша начали организовывать добровольческий батальон"" (in Russian). ОстроВ.
  11. ^ "Соорганизатор блокады железной дороги в Луганской области заявил о ее расширении". gordonua.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.