, image = Coat of arms of Aleksandrovsk (1811).svg , image_size = 150 , caption = Coat of arms of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast , start_date = , country = , allegiance = , branch = , type =

Militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

, role = , size = 600+ (claimed, January 2023) , command_structure = , garrison = , commander1 =

Yevgeny Balitsky Yevgeny Vitalyevich Balitsky (russian: Евгений Витальевич Бали́цкий, uk, Євген Віталійович Балицький, translit= Yevhen Vitaliiovych Balytskyi; born 10 December 1969) is a Russian and Ukrainia ...

, notable_commanders = , ceremonial_chief = , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_2 = , nickname = , patron = , motto = , colors = , march = , mascot = , battles = Russian invasion of Ukraine *

2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive In early June 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces occupying its territory with a long-term goal of breaching the frontlines. Efforts were made in many directions, primarily ...

, anniversaries = , decorations = , battle_honours = The Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion () is a Russian volunteer

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...

in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast of Ukraine named after the Soviet intelligence officer and

Melitopol Melitopol ( uk, Меліто́поль, translit=Melitópol’, ; russian: Мелитополь; based on el, Μελιτόπολις - "honey city") is a List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Zaporizhz ...

native Pavel Sudoplatov.

History

The battalion was established in September 2022 and consists of pro-Russian Ukrainians and foreign volunteers. It is allied with the Russian-installed authorities in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and led by

, whose son is also a member of the battalion. The PSB was formally registered as the State Unitary Enterprise "Volunteer Battalion named after P.A. Sudoplatov" by the

Federal Taxation Service The Federal Taxation Service (russian: Федеральная налоговая служба, Federalnaya nalogovaya sluzhba) or shortly FNS (russian: ФНС) is a federal body of executive authority responsible for carrying out state registrati ...

. Volunteers are paid 400,000 rubles or 5,000 US dollars. On 4 July, 2023, the Battalion would be subordinated into the BARS-32 ceasing its existence as an independent unit.

Foreign fighters

Foreigners who have been recruited to the PSB include nationals from Serbia, Sweden and Turkey.

References

{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine 2022 establishments in Ukraine Battalions of Russia Military units and formations established in 2022 Military units and formations of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukrainian collaboration with Russia Ukrainian defectors