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The Donetsk People's Militia and Luhansk People's Militia (formerly also called Russian separatist forces in Donbas) are pro-Russian
Ukraine conflict: Deadly flare-up on eastern front line
reported that separatist ranks are composed of thousands of paramilitaries
A paramilitary is an organization whose structure, tactics, training, subculture, and (often) function are similar to those of a professional military, but is not part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. Paramilitary units carr ...
in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which have been fighting the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War
The Russo-Ukrainian War; uk, російсько-українська війна, rosiisko-ukrainska viina. has been ongoing between Russia (alongside Russian separatists in Ukraine) and Ukraine since February 2014. Following Ukraine's Rev ...
. During the Donbas War (2014–2022), they were affiliated with the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic
The Luhansk or Lugansk People's Republic (russian: Луга́нская Наро́дная Респу́блика, Luganskaya Narodnaya Respublika, ; abbreviated as LPR or LNR, rus, ЛНР) is a disputed entity created by Russian-backed ...
(LPR). They supported the Russian military during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. ...
. In September 2022, Russia annexed the DPR and LPR, and the paramilitaries are being integrated into the Russian military. They are designated as terrorist groups
A number of national governments and two international organizations have created lists of organizations that they designate as terrorist. The following list of designated terrorist groups lists groups designated as terrorist by current and fo ...
by the Government of Ukraine.
The separatist paramilitaries were formed during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
From the end of February 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in major cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity, which resulted in the succes ...
. The Donbas People's Militia was formed in March 2014 by Pavel Gubarev
Pavel Yuryevich Gubarev (russian: Па́вел Ю́рьевич Гу́барев, ; or Pavlo Yuriyovych Hubariev uk, Павло Юрійович Губарєв; born 10 February 1983) is a Russian activist who proclaimed himself the "People's ...
, who proclaimed himself "People's Governor" of Donetsk Oblast, while the Army of the South-East was formed in April in Luhansk Oblast
Luhansk Oblast ( uk, Луга́нська о́бласть, translit=Luhanska oblast; russian: Луганская область, translit=Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, uk, Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast ...
. The Donbas War began in April 2014 after these groups seized Ukrainian government buildings in the Donbas, leading the Ukrainian government
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ( uk, Кабінет Міністрів України, translit=Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy; shortened to CabMin), commonly referred to as the Government of Ukraine ( uk, Уряд України, ''Uriad Ukrai ...
to launch its Anti-Terrorist Operation against them. During the Donbas War, Russian far-right groups were heavily involved in recruiting for the separatists, and many far-right activists joined them and formed their own volunteer units. The Russian separatists have been held responsible for war crimes, among them the shootdown of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down by Russian forces on 17 July 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed. Cont ...
and the Mariupol rocket attacks, which they have denied.
The separatist paramilitaries were supported by, and were proxies of, the Russian Armed Forces.Ukraine conflict: Deadly flare-up on eastern front line
BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
(18 February 2020) Ukraine, the United States, and some analysts consider them to be under the command of Russia's 8th Combined Arms Army. Although the Russian government often denied direct involvement, saying their soldiers were there voluntarily, some of them had been captured with documents that said otherwise. The separatists admitted receiving supplies from Russia and being trained there. BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...Russian citizens
Russian citizenship law details the conditions by which a person holds citizenship of Russia. The primary law governing citizenship requirements is the federal law "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation", which came into force on 1 July 2002.
...
. DPR head Alexander Zakharchenko
Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko uk, Олекса́ндр Володи́мирович Заха́рченко, translit=Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zakharchenko (26 June 1976 – 31 August 2018) was a Ukrainian separatist leader who was the he ...
claimed in August 2014 that there were around 3,000 to 4,000 Russian volunteers fighting for his militia, which included serving and retired Russian Army
The Russian Ground Forces (russian: Сухопутные войска ВSukhoputnyye voyska V}), also known as the Russian Army (, ), are the land forces of the Russian Armed Forces.
The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Force ...
servicemen. From September 2015, it was alleged that the separatist units, at the battalion level and up, have been acting under direct command of Russian Army officers.
In September 2014, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Militias became the 1st Army Corps and 2nd Army Corps of the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya (russian: Объединённые Вооруженные Силы Новороссии; acronym NAF), which was to be the army of the proposed Novorossiya (New Russia) political union. The Novorossiya project was suspended in May 2015 due to infighting, but the two separatist armies would still operate in an unified manner.
Although called "militias", shortly before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the separatist republics began forced conscription of men to fight for Russia. The role of Donbas conscripts by Russian forces has been described as "cannon fodder
Cannon fodder is an informal, derogatory term for combatants who are regarded or treated by government or military command as expendable in the face of enemy fire. The term is generally used in situations where combatants are forced to deliberatel ...
", by November the reported casualty rate of the Separatist forces were to be almost 50% according to official Separatist sources and was presumed to be possibly higher.
History
On 3 March 2014, during the2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
From the end of February 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in major cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity, which resulted in the succes ...
, groups of protesters took control of the regional administration building in Donetsk
Donetsk ( , ; uk, Донецьк, translit=Donets'k ; russian: Донецк ), formerly known as Aleksandrovka, Yuzivka (or Hughesovka), Stalin and Stalino (see also: cities' alternative names), is an industrial city in eastern Ukraine loca ...
. An armed opposition group named the Donbas People's Militia, led by Pavel Gubarev
Pavel Yuryevich Gubarev (russian: Па́вел Ю́рьевич Гу́барев, ; or Pavlo Yuriyovych Hubariev uk, Павло Юрійович Губарєв; born 10 February 1983) is a Russian activist who proclaimed himself the "People's ...
, participated. This happened when 11 Ukrainian cities with significant populations of ethnic Russians
, native_name_lang = ru
, image =
, caption =
, population =
, popplace =
118 million Russians in the Russian Federation (2002 ''Winkler Prins'' estimate)
, region1 =
, pop1 ...
erupted in demonstrations against the new Ukrainian government. On 6 April 2014, 2,000 pro-Russian protesters rallied outside the regional administration building. On the same day, groups of protesters in Eastern Ukraine
Eastern Ukraine or east Ukraine ( uk, Східна Україна, Skhidna Ukrayina; russian: Восточная Украина, Vostochnaya Ukraina) is primarily the territory of Ukraine east of the Dnipro (or Dnieper) river, particularly Khar ...
stormed the regional administration building in Kharkiv
Kharkiv ( uk, wikt:Харків, Ха́рків, ), also known as Kharkov (russian: Харькoв, ), is the second-largest List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine.SBU headquarters in 
On 16 April, the militia entered Sloviansk with six BMD airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicles they had obtained from elements of the 25th Airborne Brigade who had switched allegiance. A Ukrainian military column was disarmed after the vehicles were blockaded by locals in Kramatorsk. The militia also received a 2S9 "Nona-S" self-propelled 120 mm mortar. On April 20, an unidentified armed group in civilian clothes attacked a militia checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Sloviansk. Three attackers and three members of the militia were killed. On May 14, eight members of the militia seized an IMR armored vehicle from Novokramatorsky Mashinostroitelny Zavod.
On May 15, the Donbas People's Militia sent an ultimatum to Kiev. They demanded the withdrawal of all Ukrainian troops from Donetsk oblast. On May 17, several members of the militia seized two 
In July 2014, the estimated manpower of the separatists was around 10,000–20,000.Ukraine's next battle is Donetsk, but no bombs, please
''USA Today''. 12 July 2014. The militia were widely suspected to have been involved in the downing of a civilian airliner,
Luhansk
Luhansk (, ; uk, Луганськ, ), also known as Lugansk (, ; russian: Луганск, ), is a city in what is internationally recognised as Ukraine, although it is administered by Russia as capital of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). A ...
. The groups created a people's council and demanded a referendum
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...
like the one held in Crimea. Within a few days, several government buildings in cities such as Kramatorsk
Kramatorsk ( uk, Краматорськ, translit=Kramatorsk ) is a city and the administrative centre of Kramatorsk Raion in the northern portion of Donetsk Oblast, in eastern Ukraine. Prior to 2020, Kramatorsk was a city of oblast significan ...
and Sloviansk
Sloviansk ( uk, Слов'янськ, Sloviansk ; russian: Славянск, Slavyansk or ; prior to 1784 – Tor) is a city in the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, the administrative center of the Slovyansk urban commun ...
were also stormed. On 12 April, the supporters of the Donetsk People's Republic and members of Donbas People's Militia set up checkpoints and barricades in Sloviansk. The same day, former members of the Donetsk " Berkut" unit joined the ranks of the Donbas People's Militia.
On 13 April, the newly established Ukrainian government gave the separatists a deadline to disarm or face a "full-scale anti-terrorist campaign" in the region. Later that day, the first reports came in of fighting between the people's militia and Ukrainian troops near Sloviansk, with casualties on both sides. On 14 April, members of the Donbas People's Militia blocked Ukrainian military KrAZ trucks armed with Grad missiles from entering the city.
On 15 April, a full scale " Anti-Terrorist Operation" was launched by the Ukrainian government with aim of restoring their authority over the areas seized by the militia.
On 16 April, the militia entered Sloviansk with six BMD airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicles they had obtained from elements of the 25th Airborne Brigade who had switched allegiance. A Ukrainian military column was disarmed after the vehicles were blockaded by locals in Kramatorsk. The militia also received a 2S9 "Nona-S" self-propelled 120 mm mortar. On April 20, an unidentified armed group in civilian clothes attacked a militia checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Sloviansk. Three attackers and three members of the militia were killed. On May 14, eight members of the militia seized an IMR armored vehicle from Novokramatorsky Mashinostroitelny Zavod.
On May 15, the Donbas People's Militia sent an ultimatum to Kiev. They demanded the withdrawal of all Ukrainian troops from Donetsk oblast. On May 17, several members of the militia seized two BRDM
BRDM is an initialism for ''Boyevaya Razvedyvatelnaya Dozornaya Mashina'', (RU Боевая Разведывательная Дозорная Машина), literally "Combat Reconnaissance Patrol Vehicle". The BRDM is a four-wheeled amphibious ve ...
unarmed armored vehicles from Severodonetsk
russian: Северодоне́цк
, other_name = Severodonetsk
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = Severodoneck prapor.png
, image_shield ...
and Lysychansk
Lysychansk ( uk, Лисича́нськ ; russian: Лисича́нск ) is a city in the Sievierodonetsk Raion of the Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine. Prior to 2020 municipal classification reforms, it was incorporated as a city of oblast significa ...
(Luhansk Oblast
Luhansk Oblast ( uk, Луга́нська о́бласть, translit=Luhanska oblast; russian: Луганская область, translit=Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, uk, Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast ...
) On May 22, the Federal State of Novorossiya
Novorossiya or New Russia (russian: Новороссия, ; uk, Новоросія, Novorosiia, ovoroˈsijɐ, also referred to as the Union of People's Republics ( rus, Союз народных республик, Soyuz narodnykh respubli ...
was declared. On May 23, several members of the people's militia seized another BRDM-RKh unarmed armored vehicle from Loskutovka (Luhansk Oblast
Luhansk Oblast ( uk, Луга́нська о́бласть, translit=Luhanska oblast; russian: Луганская область, translit=Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, uk, Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast ...
)
In July 2014, the estimated manpower of the separatists was around 10,000–20,000.Ukraine's next battle is Donetsk, but no bombs, please''USA Today''. 12 July 2014. The militia were widely suspected to have been involved in the downing of a civilian airliner,
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down by Russian forces on 17 July 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed. Cont ...
, on 17 July 2014.
On August 8, the militia claimed that after battles near the Russian border, they had captured 67 pieces of equipment in varying conditions (serviceable equipment without ammunition and fuel, with faults, damaged in battle and completely unusable), including 18 "Grad" multiple rocket launching systems, 15 tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engi ...
s and armored personnel carriers, howitzers, MANPADS, etc. As of August 12, the militia had at least 200 armored vehicles.
The months of July and early August were disastrous for the militias, with many analysts saying they were on the verge of defeat, before a sudden counteroffensive, which the Ukrainian government
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ( uk, Кабінет Міністрів України, translit=Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy; shortened to CabMin), commonly referred to as the Government of Ukraine ( uk, Уряд України, ''Uriad Ukrai ...
said was supported by Russian troops, encircled thousands of Ukrainian troops and forced them into a retreat. The militias soon re-captured several strategic positions such as Savur-Mohyla and Luhansk International Airport
Luhansk International Airport ( uk, Міжнародний аеропорт "Луганськ") was an airport in Luhansk, Ukraine . The airport was located 20 km (12 miles) south of the city center, 9 km to the city limit. Since 11 Ju ...
. The armies of both the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic
The Luhansk or Lugansk People's Republic (russian: Луга́нская Наро́дная Респу́блика, Luganskaya Narodnaya Respublika, ; abbreviated as LPR or LNR, rus, ЛНР) is a disputed entity created by Russian-backed ...
(LPR) merged on 16 September 2014 to form the "United Armed Forces of Novorossiya". It was formed under the command of Lieutenant General Ivan Korsun as commander-in-chief.
On 2 February 2015, Head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko
Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko uk, Олекса́ндр Володи́мирович Заха́рченко, translit=Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zakharchenko (26 June 1976 – 31 August 2018) was a Ukrainian separatist leader who was the he ...
, announced that there would be a general mobilization in the DPR of 10,000 volunteers, and he aimed to eventually expand the NAF to 100,000 soldiers.
In March 2015, the estimated manpower of the separatists rose to 30,000–35,000 personnel.
On 20 May 2015 the leadership of the Federal State of Novorossiya announced the termination of the confederation 'project' but the United Armed Forces was retained as the joint armed service of the DPR and LPR.Euan MacDonald: Divide and re-conquer?Kyiv Post
The ''Kyiv Post'' is the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine, founded in October 1995 by Jed Sunden.
History
American Jed Sunden founded the ''Kyiv Post'' weekly newspaper on Oct. 18, 1995 and later created KP Media for his holdings. ...
(11 June 2016)
The Ukrainian government in mid-2015 claimed there were about 42,500 fighters on the separatists' side, which include 9,000 Russian soldiers.
2022 Russian invasion
During the prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic started a process ofmass mobilization
Mass mobilization (also known as social mobilization or popular mobilization) refers to mobilization of civilian population as part of contentious politics. Mass mobilization is defined as a process that engages and motivates a wide range of partne ...
of its population in order to build an army for the Russian invasion. As there weren't enough volunteers in the separatist army, and the Russian government wasn't willing to start mobilization of its own population, men from ages 18 until 65 from any background were conscripted to form the separatist army. Groups of DPR/LPR officers roamed the streets searching for men at the age range, arresting and sending to conscription offices any they found. Most of the Donbas conscripts are unexperienced, received little-to-no training and were badly equipped, and suffered from morale issues and heavy casulties. The role of Donbas conscripts by Russian forces has been described as "cannon fodder
Cannon fodder is an informal, derogatory term for combatants who are regarded or treated by government or military command as expendable in the face of enemy fire. The term is generally used in situations where combatants are forced to deliberatel ...
". There were reports of conscipts being issued antiquated equipment such as World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
-era Mosin–Nagant rifles and the early Cold War-era T-62
The T-62 is a Soviet main battle tank that was first introduced in 1961. As a further development of the T-55 series, the T-62 retained many similar design elements of its predecessor including low profile and thick turret armour. In contras ...
tanks. By November, the DPR ombudsman reported that the DPR militia suffered almost 20,000 casualties (both wounded in action
Wounded in Action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...
and killed in action), translating into a staggering 50% casualty rate, with outside observers believing it could possibly be higher.
The mass conscription has been considered a war crime by some, as the Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention bans the forceful conscription of soldiers from occupied territory, but Russian authorities claimed they are part of the independent sovereign nations of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic
The Luhansk or Lugansk People's Republic (russian: Луга́нская Наро́дная Респу́блика, Luganskaya Narodnaya Respublika, ; abbreviated as LPR or LNR, rus, ЛНР) is a disputed entity created by Russian-backed ...
.
After the leaders of the Russian proxy republics signed treaties of annexation with the Russian president on September 30, 2022, the Russian State Duma
The State Duma (russian: Госуда́рственная ду́ма, r=Gosudárstvennaja dúma), commonly abbreviated in Russian as Gosduma ( rus, Госду́ма), is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, while the upper house ...
approved legislation on October 3 mandating the integration of the "people's militias" into the Russian military, backdated to the date of annexation. Upon the "annexation" of Ukrainian territories in September 2022, Russian occupation officials began forcibly conscripting Ukrainian men in occupied parts of Kherson oblast, and were reportedly ready to mobilize 3,000 in occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast.
Structure
The militias consist of different armed groups, sworn to the Donetsk People's Republic andLuhansk People's Republic
The Luhansk or Lugansk People's Republic (russian: Луга́нская Наро́дная Респу́блика, Luganskaya Narodnaya Respublika, ; abbreviated as LPR or LNR, rus, ЛНР) is a disputed entity created by Russian-backed ...
. Militant groups which refused to do so were disarmed as gangs in the DPR. Other groups are autonomous forces.
According to ''Ukrainskyi Tyzhden
''The Ukrainian Week'' ( uk, Український Тиждень, translit=Ukrainskyi Tyzhden) is an illustrated weekly magazine covering politics, economics and the arts and aimed at the socially engaged Ukrainian-language reader. It provides ...
'', a Donetsk Operative Command set up in May 2016 by Russia coordinates the military efforts of the Donetsk People's Republic. The tank battalions they claim Russia can deploy include the DPR Diesel Battalion, and LPR August Battalion. Euromaidan Press
''Euromaidan Press'' (EP) is an English-language news website launched in 2014 by contributors from Ukraine, sponsored by reader contributions and the International Renaissance Foundation. It shares its name with the Euromaidan movement in Ukrain ...
reported in September 2018 that the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya comprised two army corps
Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...
: the 1st Corps, called the "People's Militia of the DNR" and the 2nd Corps, called "People's Militia of the LNR".Who is who in the Kremlin proxy "Luhansk People's Republic"Euromaidan Press
''Euromaidan Press'' (EP) is an English-language news website launched in 2014 by contributors from Ukraine, sponsored by reader contributions and the International Renaissance Foundation. It shares its name with the Euromaidan movement in Ukrain ...
(7 September 2018)
On 28 December 2018 commander of the Ukrainian Navy
The Military Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ( uk, Військо́во-морські́ си́ли Збро́йних сил Украї́ни, ВМС ЗСУ) is the maritime forces of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Ar ...
Ihor Voronchenko
Ihor Oleksandrovych Voronchenko ( ua, Воронченко Ігор Олександрович; born 22 August 1964) is a Ukrainian Vice Admiral and a former Commander of the Navy (Ukraine), commander of the Ukrainian Navy.
claimed that the DPR had created a flotilla
A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a small ''flota'' ( fleet) of ships), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet.
Composition
A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same clas ...
stationed at Novoazovsk
Novoazovsk (, ; rus, Новоазовск}) is a border town on the south-eastern tip of Ukraine (near the border with Russia), According to Voronchenko, the DPR had named this flotilla the "9th Regiment of the Marine Corps".The militants created a "flotilla" in the Azov Sea – Voronchenko
DPR People's Militia (russian: Народная милиция ДНР), or 1st Army Corps – Formed on 14 November 2014.
*REGULAR FORCES
** 1st Slavyansk Brigade (russian: link=no, 1-ая Славянская бригада) – Brigade formerly commanded by Igor "Strelkov" Girkin. He was the Minister of Defense of allied separatist militias in the DPR and LPR from 16 May to 14 August 2014. Strelkov's name was later revealed to be Igor Girkin, a
Diesel Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Дизель») – Separate tank battalion formed in 2015, equipped with Soviet equipment, including 
1st Separate Battalion-Tactical Group "Somalia" or 
Kalmius Brigade (russian: link=no, Бригада «Кальмиус») – Special forces brigade commanded by Sergei Petrovskiy.
** Rapid Response Team
** 
Vostok Brigade (russian: link=no, Бригада «Восток», meaning "East Brigade") – Special forces brigade founded and led by 
Slavic Unification and Revival Battalion or Svarozhich Battalion – formed by members of the 
Mariupol-Khingan Naval Infantry (russian: link=no, Мариупольско-Хинганский морская пехота) – Formed in 2016. The name is based on the Soviet
LPR People's Militia (russian: Народная милиция ЛНР), or 2nd Army Corps – Formed on 7 October 2014.
*REGULAR FORCES
** 1st Separate Mechanized Brigade "August" or August Battalion – The only tank battalion in the LPR People's Militia.
** 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade named after 
First Cossack Regiment (russian: link=no, Первый казачий полк) – Don Cossack volunteer group commanded by Ataman Pavel Dryomov. The group has around 1,300 fighters, and its headquarters is in Stakhanov. Originally part of Kozitsyn's Cossack National Guard until it split in September 2014. Dryomov denounced the LPR's leadership as corrupt and "pro-oligarchic". Dryomov was killed on 12 December 2015 when his car was blown up by an unknown perpetrator the day after his wedding.
** Interbrigades – Russian volunteers – national-bolsheviks, members of The Other Russia.
** 7th Motorized Brigade
** Mechanized Brigade "Prizrak" or Prizrak Brigade (russian: link=no, Бригада «Призрак», meaning "Ghost Brigade") –
* Army of the South-East (russian: Армия Юго-Востока) – Main militia forces of the Luhansk People's Republic from Mid April to 16 September 2014.
* Cossack Army – An international organisation that recruits volunteers from Ukraine and Russia.
* Death
* Luhansk People's Militia (russian: Народное ополчение Луганщины)
* Donbas People's Militia (russian: Народное ополчение Донбасса) – Main militia of the Donetsk People's Republic from 3 March to 16 September 2014.
* ' Division (russian: link=no, Шахтёрская дивизия) – Founded shortly after the rebel withdrawal from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, commanded by Konstantin Kuzmin. Fighters range from ages 22–60. Composed of former coal miners. Reorganized into a territorial defensive battalion after September 2014.
* Novorossiya Humanitarian Battalion (russian: link=no, Гуманитарный батальон «Новороссия») – Non-combat unit involved in protecting the delivery of humanitarian aid.
* DShRG Ratibor (russian: link=no, ДШРГ Ратибор) – Group that was formed by Russian nationalists.
* Ratibor
* United Battalions of the DPR and LPR.
* 
Separate Brigade of Special Purpose "Odessa" (russian: link=no, Отдельная бригада особого назначения «Одесса»)
* 
Interunit – A far-left military political unit build inside the Prizrak Brigade composed of internationalist volunteers formed in 2015. The bulk of the volunteers came from Spain, while was commanded by an Italian fighter called "Nemo". It was operational until 2017.
Donetsk People's Republic
*
According to Armament Research Services (ARES), the rebels mostly used equipment that was available domestically before the 2013–2015 Ukrainian crisis, Ukrainian crisis. However, they were also seen with weapons that were not known to have been exported to Ukraine, or otherwise be available there, including some of the latest models of Russian military equipment, never exported outside Russia. According to the Donetsk People's Republic, all of its military equipment is "hardware that we took from the Ukrainian military". However, according to the Ukrainian government and the United States Department of State, this is a false. They claim the separatists have received military equipment from Russia, including multiple rocket launch systems and tanks. Although Russian officials deny supplying arms to the militia, substantial evidence proves supports this. In August 2014 Ministry of Defence (Ukraine), Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey said the proof for the weapons supply from Russia was that the fighters of the Donbas People's Militia were using Russian-made weapons never used (or bought) by the Ukrainian army.Militants have Russian weapons that have never been in service with Ukrainian army – Heletei
Interfax-Ukraine (22 August 2014)
Such exclusively Russian equipment seen with pro-Russian separatists includes Russian modifications of
Fox News (June 13, 2014) Russia has denied supplying weapons and has described the Russian citizens fighting with the Donbas People's Militia as volunteers. The Donetsk People's Republic claimed on 16 August 2014 that it had received (together with 30 tanks and 120 other armoured vehicles of undisclosed origin) 1,200 "individuals who have gone through training over a four-month period on the territory of the Russian Federation". Prime Minister of the DPR
Members and former members of Russian National Unity (RNU), the National Bolshevik Party, the Eurasian Youth Union, and Combatants of the war in Donbas#Cossacks, Cossack groups formed branches to recruit volunteers to join the separatists.Yudina, Natalia (2015)
"Russian nationalists fight Ukrainian war"
in: ''Journal on Baltic Security'', Volume 1, Issue 1 (de Gruyter). pp.47–69. doi:10.1515/jobs-2016-0012. A former RNU member,
Anti-government Non-state Armed Actors in the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine
''Czech Journal of International Relations'', Volume 56, Issue 2. pp.48-49. Quote: "Another group of Russian citizens who became involved in the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine were members of the so-called right-wing units of the Russian Spring." Some of the most influential far-right Russian separatists are Russian imperialism, neo-imperialists, who seek to revive the Russian Empire. These included Igor Girkin, Igor 'Strelkov' Girkin, first "minister of defence" of the Donetsk People's Republic, who espouses Russian neo-imperialism and ethno-nationalism. The Russian Imperial Legion, the fighting arm of the Russian Imperial Movement, a white supremacist militant group, has recruited thousands of volunteers to join the separatists. Some separatists have flown the black-yellow-white Russian imperial flag, such as the
Far-right nationalists from other countries have also fought for the Russian separatists, such as the Hungarian nationalist 'Legion of Saint Stephen', the Bulgarian nationalism, Bulgarian nationalist 'Orthodox Dawn' and the Serbian Chetnik#Contemporary period, Chetnik 'Jovan Šević Detachment', as well as members of Serbian Action. According to the Italian newspaper ''la Repubblica'', well-known Italian neo-fascist Andrea Palmeri (former member of the far-right New Force (Italy), New Force party) has been fighting for the Donetsk People's Republic since 2014 and was hailed by Gubarev as a "real fascist". Professor Anton Shekhovtsov, an expert on far-right movements in Russia and abroad, reported in 2014 that members of Polish neo-fascist group "Falanga" and Italian far-right group "Millennium" had joined the Donbas separatists. French Eurasianism, Eurasianists, notably the far-right organization "Continental Unity", have also been accused of recruiting far-right extremists across Europe to fight for the Donbas separatists. Swedish and Finnish far-right groups, such as the "Power Belongs to the People" party, reportedly recruited volunteers to fight for the separatists, while members of the neo-Nazi "Nordic Resistance Movement" were seen attending paramilitary training in Russia. Other far-right foreign fighters from Europe and North America have fought alongside the pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, including white nationalists, neo-Nazis, Neo-fascism, neo-fascists and Christian nationalism, Christian nationalists. Motivations for these fighters have included the belief that they are fighting America and Western interests and that Vladimir Putin is a bulwark for "traditional white European values" who they must support against the "decadent West".
In April 2022, news outlets noted that a video posted on Donetsk People's Republic's website showed Denis Pushilin awarding a medal to Lieutenant Roman Vorobyov (
Far-left volunteers have also fought for pro-Russian forces, accusing the Ukrainian government of being a "fascist state" and seeking to engage in an "Anti-fascism, anti-fascist struggle". However, these leftist volunteers have co-operated with far-right groups in Donbas. Among the initial volunteers were members of the Communist Party of Ukraine, as well as some members of Trade union, trade unions and labor organizations opposed to the new government that emerged after the Ukrainian Revolution.
A small number of Spanish socialists travelled to Ukraine to fight for the separatists, with some explaining they were "repaying the favour" to Russia for the International response to the Spanish Civil War#Soviet Union, USSR's support to Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. They were also enlisting in solidarity with those who died in the 2014 Odesa clashes#Trade Unions House fire, Unions House fire. Spanish fighters established the 'Carlos Palomino International Brigade', which fought under the flag of the Second Spanish Republic. In 2015, it reportedly had less than ten members, and was later disbanded. Beness Aijo, a Latvian National Bolshevism, National Bolshevik of Ugandan and Russians in Latvia, Russian descent, was arrested in Donetsk in 2014 for fighting with separatist forces and the National Bolshevik Interbrigades. A female member of the Maki (political party), Israeli Communist Party had also reportedly joined the separatists in 2015. Other examples were the 'DKO' (Volunteer Communist Unit) and the Interunit, both composed of foreign communist volunteers; the Interunit has been inactive since 2017.
,
Ukraine death toll rises to more than 4,300 despite ceasefire – U.N.
, Reuters (21 November 2014) In September 2015, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) published a report on the testimonies of victims held in places of illegal detention in Donbas. In December 2015, a team led by Małgorzata Gosiewska published a comprehensive report on war crimes in Donbas.
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukrai ...
(28 December 2018)
Combat forces
Donetsk People's Republic
DPR People's Militia (russian: Народная милиция ДНР), or 1st Army Corps – Formed on 14 November 2014.
*REGULAR FORCES
** 1st Slavyansk Brigade (russian: link=no, 1-ая Славянская бригада) – Brigade formerly commanded by Igor "Strelkov" Girkin. He was the Minister of Defense of allied separatist militias in the DPR and LPR from 16 May to 14 August 2014. Strelkov's name was later revealed to be Igor Girkin, a Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
-born Russian, Ground Forces
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
veteran and former FSB agent.Russia's Donetsk Proxies Anticipate Ukrainian SiegeJamestown Foundation
The Jamestown Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based conservative defense policy think tank. Founded in 1984 as a platform to support Soviet defectors, its stated mission today is to inform and educate policy makers about events and trends, which ...
, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 11 Issue: 149. 13 August 2014
** AA Regiment
** Danube Group
** Diesel Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Дизель») – Separate tank battalion formed in 2015, equipped with Soviet equipment, including T-72
The T-72 is a family of Soviet/Russian main battle tanks that entered production in 1969. The T-72 was a development of the T-64, which was troubled by high costs and its reliance on immature developmental technology. About 25,000 T-72 tanks h ...
B1s.
** Dome Group
** Horlivka Group
** Oplot 5th Separate Infantry Brigade or Oplot Brigade (russian: link=no, Батальон «Оплот», meaning "Bulwark Battalion") – First commanded by Alexander Zakharchenko
Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko uk, Олекса́ндр Володи́мирович Заха́рченко, translit=Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zakharchenko (26 June 1976 – 31 August 2018) was a Ukrainian separatist leader who was the he ...
. Originally a Donbas People's Militia battalion, it expanded to a brigade by September 2014 during the DPR militia restructuring.
** Kolchuga Group
** Russian Imperial Legion (russian: link=no, Имперский легион) is the military arm of the Russian Imperial Movement, a Russian white supremacist Orthodox nationalist organization that has recruited thousands to fight for the separatists. Imperial Legion and RIM have been recognized as a terrorist movement by Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
and United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
for their links to neo-fascist terrorists.
** Novoazovsk Group
** Oplot Group
** Reconnaissance Battalion
** Sparta Battalion
The Sparta Battalion (russian: батальон «Спарта») is a Russian separatist military unit of the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine. It has been fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbas ...
(russian: link=no, Батальон «Спарта») – Special forces battalion formed and led by Arsen Pavlov
Arsen Sergeyevich Pavlov (russian: Арсе́н Серге́евич Па́влов; 2 February 1983 – 16 October 2016), known by his Motorola (Моторо́ла), was a Russian militant known for murdering and torturing Ukrainian POWs, wh ...
, known as Motorola, until his assassination in 2016. His successor was Vladimir Zhoga, from Sloviansk, and known by Voha. Zhoga was killed in battle in March 2022 during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
** 1st Separate Battalion-Tactical Group "Somalia" or Somalia Battalion
The Somalia Battalion (russian: Батальон «Сомали») is a separatist military unit of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic in Ukraine, which has been fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbas War and the 2022 ...
(russian: link=no, Батальон «Сомали») – Tactical group led by Lieutenant colonel Mikhail Tolstykh, known as Givi until his assassination in 2017. In 2022 the Battalion's leader was Lieutenant Colonel Timur Kurilkin.
** Typhoon unit
*SPECIAL FORCES
** 1st Battalion Khan
** 3rd Battalion
** DShRG Rusich (russian: link=no, ДШРГ «Русич») – Special forces-type company affiliated with the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and commanded by Aleksey Milchakov, a Russian Neo Nazi
Neo-Nazism comprises the post–World War II militant, social, and political movements that seek to revive and reinstate Nazi ideology. Neo-Nazis employ their ideology to promote hatred and racial supremacy (often white supremacy), attack r ...
. Made up of far-right Russian and other European volunteers. On July 10, 2015, Milchakov announced that the Rusich Company would be withdrawing from Donbas for retraining and refitting. In April 2022, it was reported that Rusich had returned to eastern Ukraine, this time as part of the private military company Wagner Group
The Wagner Group (russian: Группа Вагнера, Gruppa Vagnera), also known as PMC Wagner ( «Вагнер», ChVK «Vagner»; ), is a Russian paramilitary organization. It is variously described as a private military company (PMC), a ...
.
** Kalmius Brigade (russian: link=no, Бригада «Кальмиус») – Special forces brigade commanded by Sergei Petrovskiy.
** Rapid Response Team
** Vostok Brigade (russian: link=no, Бригада «Восток», meaning "East Brigade") – Special forces brigade founded and led by Alexander Khodakovsky
Alexander Sergeevich Khodakovsky ( rus, Алекса́ндр Серге́евич Ходако́вский, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲejɪvʲɪtɕ xədɐˈkofskʲɪj) is the commander of the pro-Russian Vostok Battalion formed in early May ...
. It has foreign volunteers including Russians and North Ossetians. Begun as a battalion, as of June 2014 it had about 500 men, according to Khodakovsky. It later expanded to a brigade.
*REAR FORCES
** Engineering Battalion
** Patriotic Forces of Donbas (russian: link=no, Патриотические силы Донбасса)
** Electric Warfare unit
** Steppe Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Степь»)
** DPR Republican Guard (russian: link=no, Республиканская гвардия ДНР) – Elite unit created by Alexander Zakharchenko on January 12, 2015. Commanded by Major-general Ivan Kondratov, and composed of six battalions that total more than 3,000 fighters.
** Slavic Unification and Revival Battalion or Svarozhich Battalion – formed by members of the Rodnovery
The Slavic Native Faith, commonly known as Rodnovery
* bg, Родноверие, translit=Rоdnoverie
* bs, Rodnovjerje
* mk, Родноверие, translit=Rodnoverie
* cz, Rodnověří
* hr, Rodnovjerje
* pl, Rodzimowierstwo; Rodzima ...
(Slavic native faith) movement, at its peak 1,200 fighters, now part of the Vostok Brigade.
** Repair Battalion
** International Brigade "Pyatnashka" (russian: link=no, Бригада «Пятнашка», meaning "15th Brigade") – International brigade commanded by Akhra Avidzba, known by Abkhaz. DPR positions in Marinka are held by this unit.
** Support Battalion
** Mariupol-Khingan Naval Infantry (russian: link=no, Мариупольско-Хинганский морская пехота) – Formed in 2016. The name is based on the Soviet World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
221st Infantry Mariupol-Khingan Red Banner Order of Suvorov Rifle Division.
** Vikings Battalion – Motorized infantry unit formed in 2015.
** DPR Security Service Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон службы безопасности Донецкой народной республики) – Security Service of the Donetsk People's Republic.
** Horlivka Group
*TERRITORIAL DEFENSE
** 1st Battalion
** 2nd Territorial Defense Battalion "Miner's Division" (russian: link=no, Шахтёрская дивизия) – Reorganized into a territorial defensive battalion after September 2014.
** 3rd Battalion
** 4th Battalion
** 5th Battalion
** 6th Battalion
Luhansk People’s Republic
LPR People's Militia (russian: Народная милиция ЛНР), or 2nd Army Corps – Formed on 7 October 2014.
*REGULAR FORCES
** 1st Separate Mechanized Brigade "August" or August Battalion – The only tank battalion in the LPR People's Militia.
** 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade named after Kliment Voroshilov
Kliment Yefremovich Voroshilov (, uk, Климент Охрімович Ворошилов, ''Klyment Okhrimovyč Vorošylov''), popularly known as Klim Voroshilov (russian: link=no, Клим Вороши́лов, ''Klim Vorošilov''; 4 Februa ...
.
** 4th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade
** 6th Separate Cossack Motorized Rifle Regiment named after Ataman Matvei Platov
Count Matvei Ivanovich Platov (8 (19) August 1753 – 3 (15) January 1818) was a Russian general who commanded the Don Cossacks in the Napoleonic wars and founded Novocherkassk as the new capital of the Don Host Province.
Biography
Platov ...
.
** 7th Chistyakovskaya Motorized Rifle Brigade
** Zarya Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Заря», meaning "Dawn Battalion") – First commander was Igor Plotnitsky
Igor Venediktovich Plotnitsky uk, Ігор Венедиктович Плотницький, translit=Ihor Venedyktovych Plotnytskyi (born 25 June 1964) is a former Ukrainian separatist leader who served as the head of the self-proclaimed Luhan ...
. Commanded by Andrei Patrushev.
** AA Battalion
** Artillery Brigade
** Command Regiment
** Cossacks Motorized Brigade – Don Cossack
Don Cossacks (russian: Донские казаки, Donskie kazaki) or Donians (russian: донцы, dontsy) are Cossacks who settled along the middle and lower Don. Historically, they lived within the former Don Cossack Host (russian: До ...
volunteer group commanded by Rashid Shakirzanov. The group has over 4,000 fighters and access to armor and artillery. From May to November 2014, the group was commanded by Ataman Nikolai Kozitsyn. Kozitsyn was forcibly removed from power in November 2014 and replaced by Shakirzanov. The group's headquarters is in Antratsyt
Antratsyt or Antratsit (; ) is a city in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. Until 1962 it was known as Bokove-Antratsyt.
The city is located in the southern part of the Luhansk Oblast (region). Antratsyt is incorporated as a city of oblast significa ...
, and their rule expands to Krasnyi Luch
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = File:Executive Committee building in Khrustalnyi.jpg
, image_caption = Executive Committee building in Khrustalny
, image_flag =
, image_shield ...
. Initially, this group was identified as Russian Special Forces
Spetsnaz are special forces in numerous post-Soviet states. (The term is borrowed from rus, спецназ, p=spʲɪtsˈnas; abbreviation for or 'Special Purpose Military Units'; or .)
Historically, the term ''spetsnaz'' referred to the S ...
by the U.S. State Department following the takeover of the Sloviansk city council. In November 2014, the group instated capital punishment in Perevalsk
Perevalsk (; ) is a city in the southwestern part of the Luhansk Oblast (province) of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Perevalsk Raion. Population: , .
Perevalsk was founded in 1889 as Seleznyovsky Quarry, for the workers in coal minin ...
to deter crime. Kozitsyn stated that there is no more marauding, burglaries or car-jacking in the city. They refused to join the LPR's military command, but cooperate with them, remaining autonomous and controlling territory.
** Dawn Battalion
** Tank Battalion
*SPECIAL FORCES
** Leshiy Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Леший», meaning "Forest-spirit Battalion") – Special forces battalion commanded by Aleksey Pavlov.
** Recon Battalion
** Special Forces Battalion
*REAR FORCES
** Repair Battalion
** Support Battalion
** First Cossack Regiment (russian: link=no, Первый казачий полк) – Don Cossack volunteer group commanded by Ataman Pavel Dryomov. The group has around 1,300 fighters, and its headquarters is in Stakhanov. Originally part of Kozitsyn's Cossack National Guard until it split in September 2014. Dryomov denounced the LPR's leadership as corrupt and "pro-oligarchic". Dryomov was killed on 12 December 2015 when his car was blown up by an unknown perpetrator the day after his wedding.
** Interbrigades – Russian volunteers – national-bolsheviks, members of The Other Russia.
** 7th Motorized Brigade
** Mechanized Brigade "Prizrak" or Prizrak Brigade (russian: link=no, Бригада «Призрак», meaning "Ghost Brigade") – Mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat (see also mechanized force).
As defined by the United States Army, mechanized infantry is di ...
brigade commanded by Yuri Shevchenko, formed and led by Aleksey Mozgovoy
Aleksey Borisovich Mozgovoy or Mozgovoi (russian: Алексе́й Бори́сович Мозгово́й, uk, Олексі́й Бори́сович Мозгови́й, translit=Oleksii Borysovych Mozghovyi'';'' 3 April 1975 – 23 May 2015) wa ...
until his assassination on 23 May 2015. The group keeps its distance from LPR authorities and is based in Alchevsk
Alchevsk ( uk, Алчéвськ, translit. ''Alchevs'k''; russian: Алчéвск) is a city of significance in the Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine. It is located approximately from the oblast capital, Luhansk.
Alchevsk is one of the largest indus ...
and the surrounding district.
** AA Battalion
** Continental Unit (french: link=no, Unité Continentale) – French, Serbian and Brazilian volunteer group.
** DKO (russian: link=no, ДКО – Добровольческий коммунистический отряд) – Volunteer Communist Detachment, an international organisation commanded by Piotr Biriukov.
** Artillery Brigade
*TERRITORIAL DEFENSE
** 17th Battalion
** Ataman Battalion
** Kulkin Battalion
** Lishi Battalion
** Poid Battalion
** Prizrak Battalion
** Rim Battalion
** USSR Bryanka Battalion
Former units
* Army of the South-East (russian: Армия Юго-Востока) – Main militia forces of the Luhansk People's Republic from Mid April to 16 September 2014.
* Cossack Army – An international organisation that recruits volunteers from Ukraine and Russia.
* Death
* Luhansk People's Militia (russian: Народное ополчение Луганщины)
* Donbas People's Militia (russian: Народное ополчение Донбасса) – Main militia of the Donetsk People's Republic from 3 March to 16 September 2014.
* Russian Orthodox Army
The Russian Orthodox Army, ROA (russian: Русская православная армия, ''Russkaya pravoslavnaya armiya'') was a Russian separatist forces in Donbas, Russian separatist paramilitary group in Ukraine that has been fighting ...
(russian: link=no, Русская православная армия) – A senior commander of the unit is Alexander Verin. One of the armed groups which control Donetsk
Donetsk ( , ; uk, Донецьк, translit=Donets'k ; russian: Донецк ), formerly known as Aleksandrovka, Yuzivka (or Hughesovka), Stalin and Stalino (see also: cities' alternative names), is an industrial city in eastern Ukraine loca ...
, mostly firmed from locals from coal mine towns. It reportedly had 100 members at its founding. According to Ukrainian sources, in June 2014 it had at least 350 fighters. According to independent sources, as fighting between separatists and the Ukrainian government
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ( uk, Кабінет Міністрів України, translit=Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy; shortened to CabMin), commonly referred to as the Government of Ukraine ( uk, Уряд України, ''Uriad Ukrai ...
worsened in Donbas, membership rose to 4,000. In September 2014, the ROA changed its format and merged with the newly created Oplot 5th Separate Infantry Brigade of the DPR People's Militia.
* Pyatnashka
* Miners Kalmius Battalion
The "''Kalmius''" Brigade, a military unit of the Donetsk People's Republic, operates within the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya. Media often refer to it as a battalion of special purpose. Konstantin Kuzmin commanded the unit. The unit's name ...
(russian: link=no, Бригада «Кальмиус») – Special forces battalion commanded by Sergei Petrovskiy. Formerly a subsidiary of the Miner's Division, until they split post-September 2014.
* Consolidated Orthodox Battalion "Voshod" or Voshod Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Восход», meaning "Sunrise Battalion") – Formed in June 2014, it had 300 fighters.
* North Battalion (DPR) (russian: link=no, Батальон «Север») (unofficial)
* Jovan Šević Detachment ( sr, link=no, одред «Јован Шевић») – Serbian Chetnik-led group commanded by Bratislav Živković, with 450 fighters.
* Orthodox Dawn ( bg, link=no, Православна Зора) – Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
n nationalist volunteer group.
* Legion of Saint Stephen (russian: link=no, Легион Святого Иштвана) – Hungarian subgroup of international battalions. The group espouses a Hungarian nationalist platform, demanding self-determination for the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast ( uk, Закарпатська область, Zakarpatska oblast) is an administrative oblast located in western Ukraine, mostly coterminous with the historical region of Carpathian Ruthenia. Its administrative centre is ...
, and has been accused of being close to the far-right Jobbik
The Movement for a Better Hungary ( hu, Jobbik Magyarországért Mozgalom), commonly known as Jobbik (), is a conservative political party in Hungary.
Originating with radical and nationalist roots, at its beginnings, the party described itself ...
party in Hungary.
* Carlos Palomino International Brigade (Spanish: Brigada Internacional Carlos Palomino) – Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
antifascist
Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were ...
volunteer group.
* Varyag Battalion (russian: link=no, Батальон «Варяг»), meaning "Varangian
The Varangians (; non, Væringjar; gkm, Βάραγγοι, ''Várangoi'';Varangian
" Online Etymo ...
Battalion," and named for a Russian volunteer Nazi brigade – Volunteer battalion commanded by Alexander Matyushin, a neo-Nazi and former head of Donetsk Russkiy Obraz.
* Rapid Response Group "Batman" or Batman Battalion (russian: link=no, Группа быстрого реагирования «Бэтмен») – Commanded by Alexander Bednov until he was killed in an attack on his convoy on 1 January 2015. Members of the group said that the attack was ordered by head of the Luhansk People's Republic " Online Etymo ...
Igor Plotnitsky
Igor Venediktovich Plotnitsky uk, Ігор Венедиктович Плотницький, translit=Ihor Venedyktovych Plotnytskyi (born 25 June 1964) is a former Ukrainian separatist leader who served as the head of the self-proclaimed Luhan ...
. According to them, Bednov and his fighters were killed "by order of Plotnitsky" because he was "ordered to sweep all intransigent commanders." Following this attack, the LPR arrested some of Bednov's men, and dissolved the battalion. Some of its personnel were dispersed into other LPR units, while DPR field commanders Givi and Motorola invited former members to join their battalions.
* Separate Brigade of Special Purpose "Odessa" (russian: link=no, Отдельная бригада особого назначения «Одесса»)
* Interunit – A far-left military political unit build inside the Prizrak Brigade composed of internationalist volunteers formed in 2015. The bulk of the volunteers came from Spain, while was commanded by an Italian fighter called "Nemo". It was operational until 2017.
Commanders
Donetsk People's Republic
* Denis Pushilin
Denis Vladimirovich Pushilin (russian: Дени́с Влади́мирович Пуши́лин, ; uk, Денис Володимирович Пушилін, Denys Volodymyrovych Pushylin; born 9 May 1981) is a Russian and Ukrainian politician ...
– Head of the DPR
* Alexander Zakharchenko
Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko uk, Олекса́ндр Володи́мирович Заха́рченко, translit=Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zakharchenko (26 June 1976 – 31 August 2018) was a Ukrainian separatist leader who was the he ...
* Vladimir Kononov
* Eduard Basurin
* Pavel Gubarev
Pavel Yuryevich Gubarev (russian: Па́вел Ю́рьевич Гу́барев, ; or Pavlo Yuriyovych Hubariev uk, Павло Юрійович Губарєв; born 10 February 1983) is a Russian activist who proclaimed himself the "People's ...
(former)
* "Romashka" ( nom de guerre), real name Sergei Zhurikov (Russian: Сергей Журиков)
* Alexander Khodakovsky
Alexander Sergeevich Khodakovsky ( rus, Алекса́ндр Серге́евич Ходако́вский, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲejɪvʲɪtɕ xədɐˈkofskʲɪj) is the commander of the pro-Russian Vostok Battalion formed in early May ...
* Igor Bezler (former)
* Alexander Verin
* "Botsman"
* Konstantin Kuzmin
* Sergei Petrovskiy
* Motorola
Motorola, Inc. () was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent public companies, Motorol ...
( nom de guerre), real name Arsen Pavlov
* Givi ( nom de guerre), real name Mikhail Tolstykh
* Akhra Avidzba
* Ivan Milosevic
* Roman Kutuzov, commander 1AC, major general in the Russian Ground Forces, killed 5 May 2022, in Popasna Raion, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Luhansk People's Republic
* Leonid Pasechnik – Head of the LPR
* Igor Plotnitsky
Igor Venediktovich Plotnitsky uk, Ігор Венедиктович Плотницький, translit=Ihor Venedyktovych Plotnytskyi (born 25 June 1964) is a former Ukrainian separatist leader who served as the head of the self-proclaimed Luhan ...
(former)
* Valery Bolotov (former)
* Nikolai Kozitsyn (former)
* Pavel Dryomov (his car was blown up by unknown)Separatist Cossack Commander Reported Killed In Ukraine's LuhanskRadio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a United States government funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East where it says tha ...
(12 December 2015)
* Aleksey Mozgovoy
Aleksey Borisovich Mozgovoy or Mozgovoi (russian: Алексе́й Бори́сович Мозгово́й, uk, Олексі́й Бори́сович Мозгови́й, translit=Oleksii Borysovych Mozghovyi'';'' 3 April 1975 – 23 May 2015) wa ...
* Alexander Bednov
* Yuri Shevchenko
*Oleg Bugrov , former Minister of Defence, a position which was allegedly abolished in the DPR on 1 October 2018.
Equipment
According to Armament Research Services (ARES), the rebels mostly used equipment that was available domestically before the 2013–2015 Ukrainian crisis, Ukrainian crisis. However, they were also seen with weapons that were not known to have been exported to Ukraine, or otherwise be available there, including some of the latest models of Russian military equipment, never exported outside Russia. According to the Donetsk People's Republic, all of its military equipment is "hardware that we took from the Ukrainian military". However, according to the Ukrainian government and the United States Department of State, this is a false. They claim the separatists have received military equipment from Russia, including multiple rocket launch systems and tanks. Although Russian officials deny supplying arms to the militia, substantial evidence proves supports this. In August 2014 Ministry of Defence (Ukraine), Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey said the proof for the weapons supply from Russia was that the fighters of the Donbas People's Militia were using Russian-made weapons never used (or bought) by the Ukrainian army.Militants have Russian weapons that have never been in service with Ukrainian army – HeleteiInterfax-Ukraine (22 August 2014)
Such exclusively Russian equipment seen with pro-Russian separatists includes Russian modifications of T-72
The T-72 is a family of Soviet/Russian main battle tanks that entered production in 1969. The T-72 was a development of the T-64, which was troubled by high costs and its reliance on immature developmental technology. About 25,000 T-72 tanks h ...
tanks (particularly T-72B3 and T-72BA seen destroyed in Ukraine), BTR-82AM infantry fighting vehicle (adopted in Russia in 2013), BPM-97 armored personnel carriers, sophisticated anti-aircraft system Pantsir-S1, multipurpose vehicle GAZ Vodnik (adopted in Russia in 2005), Russian modifications of MT-LB, rocket-propelled flamethrower MRO-A, anti-tank missile 9M133 Kornet, Kornet, anti-materiel rifle ASVK, suppressed sniper rifle VSS Vintorez and others.
Military training
Higher Combined Arms Command School
The Donetsk Higher Combined Arms Command School () is a higher level institution in the ideological training of cadets. People from both the DPR and LPR can enroll at the school. It prepares future command cadres in four areas: reconnaissance, tank forces, infantry, and political officers. Upon graduation, the cadets are commissioned as lieutenants. Since the fall of 2016, the Military Lyceum is affiliated to the DHCACS.Military-Physical Training Lyceum
The Georgy Beregovoy Military-Physical Training Lyceum () is an educational facility of the People's Militia, being akin to the Suvorov Military School or the Ivan Bohun Military High School. It was established on 15 May 1993 by decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as the Donetsk Higher Military-Political School of Engineering and Signal Corps. From 1993 to 2000, the Lyceum was with a three-year form of study. Over two decades, 2,793 graduates graduated from the institution, more than 1,000 of them currently serve in officer posts in various power structures of Ukraine. It was renamed and converted in 2014; since then more than 300 students have graduated. The school is open to boys between 14 and 16 years old, many of whom come from military families. The cadets live at the school six days a week.Relationship with Russia
As the conflict intensified, the Donbas People's Militia was bolstered with many volunteers from the former Soviet Union, mainly Russia; including fighters from Chechnya and North Ossetia. According to the Ukrainian government and the United States Department of State the Donbas People's Militia has received military equipment from Russia, including Russian tanks and multiple rocket launchers.US: Separatists in eastern Ukraine have weapons, military equipment from RussiaFox News (June 13, 2014) Russia has denied supplying weapons and has described the Russian citizens fighting with the Donbas People's Militia as volunteers. The Donetsk People's Republic claimed on 16 August 2014 that it had received (together with 30 tanks and 120 other armoured vehicles of undisclosed origin) 1,200 "individuals who have gone through training over a four-month period on the territory of the Russian Federation". Prime Minister of the DPR
Alexander Zakharchenko
Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko uk, Олекса́ндр Володи́мирович Заха́рченко, translit=Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Zakharchenko (26 June 1976 – 31 August 2018) was a Ukrainian separatist leader who was the he ...
said in August 2014 that it had not received military equipment from Russia; and all of its military equipment was "hardware that we took from the Ukrainian military".
Some injured militia members received medical care in Russia. In mid-August 2014, hospitals such as the Donetsk Central Hospital in Donetsk, Russia tended to between ten and twenty injured fighters daily. The Russian Emergency Ministry assisted with treatment logistics. Those questioned and registered by the (Russian) Federal Security Service and treated in Russia during this period stated that they would not return to Ukraine if the Ukrainian army won the Russo-Ukrainian War
The Russo-Ukrainian War; uk, російсько-українська війна, rosiisko-ukrainska viina. has been ongoing between Russia (alongside Russian separatists in Ukraine) and Ukraine since February 2014. Following Ukraine's Rev ...
, but would, instead, engage in a partisan warfare campaign in Eastern Ukraine
Eastern Ukraine or east Ukraine ( uk, Східна Україна, Skhidna Ukrayina; russian: Восточная Украина, Vostochnaya Ukraina) is primarily the territory of Ukraine east of the Dnipro (or Dnieper) river, particularly Khar ...
.
According to various sources, the troops of the separatists forces are under direct control of officers of the Russian Armed Forces. Specifically the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army, which has been recreated for this specific task.
Ideology of the forces
According to a 2016 report by Institut français des relations internationales, French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Russian nationalism, Russian ethnic and imperialist nationalism has shaped the official ideology of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. During the War in Donbas (2014–2022), War in Donbas, especially at the beginning, far-right groups played an important role on the pro-Russian side, arguably more so than on the Ukrainian side. They gradually became less important in Donbas as the need for Russian radical nationalists waned. According to Marlène Laruelle, separatists in Donbas produced an ideology composed of three strands of Russian nationalism: Rashism, Fascist, Christian nationalism, Orthodox and Soviet patriotism, Soviet.Far-right
Members and former members of Russian National Unity (RNU), the National Bolshevik Party, the Eurasian Youth Union, and Combatants of the war in Donbas#Cossacks, Cossack groups formed branches to recruit volunteers to join the separatists.Yudina, Natalia (2015)"Russian nationalists fight Ukrainian war"
in: ''Journal on Baltic Security'', Volume 1, Issue 1 (de Gruyter). pp.47–69. doi:10.1515/jobs-2016-0012. A former RNU member,
Pavel Gubarev
Pavel Yuryevich Gubarev (russian: Па́вел Ю́рьевич Гу́барев, ; or Pavlo Yuriyovych Hubariev uk, Павло Юрійович Губарєв; born 10 February 1983) is a Russian activist who proclaimed himself the "People's ...
, was founder of the Donbas People's Militia and first "governor" of the Donetsk People's Republic. RNU is particularly linked to the Russian Orthodox Army
The Russian Orthodox Army, ROA (russian: Русская православная армия, ''Russkaya pravoslavnaya armiya'') was a Russian separatist forces in Donbas, Russian separatist paramilitary group in Ukraine that has been fighting ...
, one of a number of separatist units described as "pro-Tsarist" and "extremist" Orthodox nationalists. In June 2014, the Russian Orthodox Army was accused of Murder of Pentecostals in Sloviansk, murdering four Pentecostals in Sloviansk. The men were accused of spying for the Ukrainian government, but the case has been cited as part of a policy of religious persecution by the separatists.
Neo-Nazi units such as 'Rusich Group, Rusich', 'Varyag' and 'Svarozhich' fought as part of the Russian militias from early 2014 and used Slavic swastikas on their badges, although some, such as 'Varyag', have since been disbanded. 'Rusich' is part of the Wagner Group
The Wagner Group (russian: Группа Вагнера, Gruppa Vagnera), also known as PMC Wagner ( «Вагнер», ChVK «Vagner»; ), is a Russian paramilitary organization. It is variously described as a private military company (PMC), a ...
, a Russian mercenary group in Ukraine which has been linked to far-right extremism.Šmíd, Tomáš & Šmídová, Alexandra. (2021)Anti-government Non-state Armed Actors in the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine
''Czech Journal of International Relations'', Volume 56, Issue 2. pp.48-49. Quote: "Another group of Russian citizens who became involved in the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine were members of the so-called right-wing units of the Russian Spring." Some of the most influential far-right Russian separatists are Russian imperialism, neo-imperialists, who seek to revive the Russian Empire. These included Igor Girkin, Igor 'Strelkov' Girkin, first "minister of defence" of the Donetsk People's Republic, who espouses Russian neo-imperialism and ethno-nationalism. The Russian Imperial Legion, the fighting arm of the Russian Imperial Movement, a white supremacist militant group, has recruited thousands of volunteers to join the separatists. Some separatists have flown the black-yellow-white Russian imperial flag, such as the
Sparta Battalion
The Sparta Battalion (russian: батальон «Спарта») is a Russian separatist military unit of the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine. It has been fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbas ...
and the (now disbanded) 'Ratibor' unit. In 2014, volunteers from the National Liberation Movement (Russia), National Liberation Movement joined the Donetsk People's Militia bearing portraits of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Nicholas II. Other Russian nationalist volunteers involved in separatist militias included members of banned groups such as the Slavic Union and Movement Against Illegal Immigration. Another Russian separatist paramilitary unit, the Interbrigades, is made up of activists from the National Bolshevism, National Bolshevik (Nazbol) group The Other Russia of E. V. Limonov, Other Russia. An article in ''Dissent (American magazine), Dissent'' noted that "despite their neo-Stalinist paraphernalia, many of the Russian-speaking nationalists Russia supports in the Donbass are just as right-wing as their counterparts from the Azov Battalion".
Far-right nationalists from other countries have also fought for the Russian separatists, such as the Hungarian nationalist 'Legion of Saint Stephen', the Bulgarian nationalism, Bulgarian nationalist 'Orthodox Dawn' and the Serbian Chetnik#Contemporary period, Chetnik 'Jovan Šević Detachment', as well as members of Serbian Action. According to the Italian newspaper ''la Repubblica'', well-known Italian neo-fascist Andrea Palmeri (former member of the far-right New Force (Italy), New Force party) has been fighting for the Donetsk People's Republic since 2014 and was hailed by Gubarev as a "real fascist". Professor Anton Shekhovtsov, an expert on far-right movements in Russia and abroad, reported in 2014 that members of Polish neo-fascist group "Falanga" and Italian far-right group "Millennium" had joined the Donbas separatists. French Eurasianism, Eurasianists, notably the far-right organization "Continental Unity", have also been accused of recruiting far-right extremists across Europe to fight for the Donbas separatists. Swedish and Finnish far-right groups, such as the "Power Belongs to the People" party, reportedly recruited volunteers to fight for the separatists, while members of the neo-Nazi "Nordic Resistance Movement" were seen attending paramilitary training in Russia. Other far-right foreign fighters from Europe and North America have fought alongside the pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, including white nationalists, neo-Nazis, Neo-fascism, neo-fascists and Christian nationalism, Christian nationalists. Motivations for these fighters have included the belief that they are fighting America and Western interests and that Vladimir Putin is a bulwark for "traditional white European values" who they must support against the "decadent West".
In April 2022, news outlets noted that a video posted on Donetsk People's Republic's website showed Denis Pushilin awarding a medal to Lieutenant Roman Vorobyov (Somalia Battalion
The Somalia Battalion (russian: Батальон «Сомали») is a separatist military unit of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic in Ukraine, which has been fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbas War and the 2022 ...
), while Vorobyov was wearing patches affiliated with neo-Nazism: the ''Totenkopf'' used by the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, 3rd SS Panzer Division, and the ''valknut''. However, the video did not show Vorobyov getting his medal when it was posted on Pushilin's website.
While far-right activists played a part in the early days of the conflict, their importance was often exaggerated, and their importance on both sides of the conflict declined over time. The political climate in Donetsk further pushed far-right groups into the margins.
Far-left
Far-left volunteers have also fought for pro-Russian forces, accusing the Ukrainian government of being a "fascist state" and seeking to engage in an "Anti-fascism, anti-fascist struggle". However, these leftist volunteers have co-operated with far-right groups in Donbas. Among the initial volunteers were members of the Communist Party of Ukraine, as well as some members of Trade union, trade unions and labor organizations opposed to the new government that emerged after the Ukrainian Revolution.
A small number of Spanish socialists travelled to Ukraine to fight for the separatists, with some explaining they were "repaying the favour" to Russia for the International response to the Spanish Civil War#Soviet Union, USSR's support to Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. They were also enlisting in solidarity with those who died in the 2014 Odesa clashes#Trade Unions House fire, Unions House fire. Spanish fighters established the 'Carlos Palomino International Brigade', which fought under the flag of the Second Spanish Republic. In 2015, it reportedly had less than ten members, and was later disbanded. Beness Aijo, a Latvian National Bolshevism, National Bolshevik of Ugandan and Russians in Latvia, Russian descent, was arrested in Donetsk in 2014 for fighting with separatist forces and the National Bolshevik Interbrigades. A female member of the Maki (political party), Israeli Communist Party had also reportedly joined the separatists in 2015. Other examples were the 'DKO' (Volunteer Communist Unit) and the Interunit, both composed of foreign communist volunteers; the Interunit has been inactive since 2017.
War crime allegations
An 18 November 2014 United Nations report on eastern Ukraine stated that the DPR was in a state of "total breakdown of law and order". The report noted "cases of serious human rights abuses by the armed groups continued to be reported, including torture, arbitrary and incommunicado detention, summary executions, forced labour, sexual violence, as well as the destruction and illegal seizure of property may amount to crimes against humanity".Almost 1,000 dead since east Ukraine truce – UN,
BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
(21 November 2014)Ukraine death toll rises to more than 4,300 despite ceasefire – U.N.
, Reuters (21 November 2014) In September 2015, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) published a report on the testimonies of victims held in places of illegal detention in Donbas. In December 2015, a team led by Małgorzata Gosiewska published a comprehensive report on war crimes in Donbas.
See also
*2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
From the end of February 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in major cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine in the aftermath of the Revolution of Dignity, which resulted in the succes ...
* Donetsk People's Republic
* Luhansk People's Republic
The Luhansk or Lugansk People's Republic (russian: Луга́нская Наро́дная Респу́блика, Luganskaya Narodnaya Respublika, ; abbreviated as LPR or LNR, rus, ЛНР) is a disputed entity created by Russian-backed ...
* 2014 Odessa clashes
* 2014 Donbas status referendums
* 2014 Donbas general elections
* 2018 Donbas general elections
* Russian military presence in Transnistria
* 2014 Russian sabotage activities in Ukraine
Notes
References
{{War in Donbas Separatist forces of the war in Donbas 2014 establishments in Ukraine History of Donetsk Oblast Pro-Russian militant groups, * Military units and formations established in 2014 Organizations based in Europe designated as terrorist Novorossiya (confederation)