Donbas Battalion information

2nd Battalion of Special Assignment "Donbas"
2nd Battalion of Special Assignment "Donbas"
2-й батальйон спеціального призначення НГУ «Донбас»
	Donbas Battalion emblem
Founded	2014
Country	Ukraine
Branch	National Guard of Ukraine
Size	900
Garrison/HQ	Severodonetsk (Until the Battle of Sievierodonetsk (2022))
Nickname(s)	"Men in Black", "Little Black Men"
Engagements	War in Donbas Liberation of Velyka Novosilka; Battle of Ilovaisk; Battle of Debaltseve; Shyrokyne standoff; ; 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Eastern Ukraine offensive Battle of Volnovakha; Battle of Marinka; Battle of Pisky; Battle of Siversk; ; ;
Commanders
Current; commander	Lieutenant colonel Oleksandr Polishchuk
Notable; commanders	Semen Semenchenko
Insignia
Battalion flag

The 2nd Battalion of Special Assignment "Donbas" (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 subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and based in Severodonetsk. Originally created in 2014 as a volunteer unit called the Donbas Battalion (Ukrainian: Батальйон Донбас, romanized: Batalion Donbas) by Semen Semenchenko following the Russian occupation of Crimea and possible invasion of continental Ukraine. The formation of the unit started in the spring of 2014 during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine.^[2]^[3]^[4] The unit was initially formed as an independent force, but has been since fully integrated into the National Guard as the 2nd Special Purpose Battalion "Donbas" within the 15th Regiment of the National Guard.^[5]

The Donbas Battalion was initially formed by Russian-speaking Ukrainians from the Donbas who opposed the separatist movement.^[6] They are one of the most notable volunteer battalions, recognized as a highly effective combat unit during the war in Donbas,^[7] and also by the constant use of balaclavas, not only to hide their identities from pro-Russian sympathizers, but also to create a sense of mystery and fear around them.^[7] Their use of balaclavas and occasionally of black fatigues led to them begin nicknamed as the "Men in Black" or "Little Black Men", as a Ukrainian analogue of the Russian "Little Green Men".^[7]^[8]^[9]

In October 2016, a veteran of the former volunteer battalion Anatoliy Vynohrodskyi announced their intent to revive a volunteer battalion outside of the National Guard.^[10] The creation of the new volunteer battalion was never realized. Instead, in January 2017, Vynohradskyi became one of the leaders of the trade blockade with the Russian occupied territories in the Ukrainian East.^[11]

^ "Volunteers Bolster Ukraine's Fighting Force". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Батальон "Донбасс" станет частью Нацгвардии – Семенченко". ЛIГА.Новости. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
^ Rachkevych, Mark (23 May 2014). "Ukrainian Donbas Battalion ambushed in Donetsk Oblast village; at least five killed". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
^ Miller, Christopher J. (14 May 2014). "Volunteer Donbass Battalion takes up arms to defend Ukraine, defeat separatists". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
^ 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.
^ "Батальон "Донбасс" станет частью Нацгвардии - Семенченко". LIGA (in Russian). 29 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ayres, Sabra (29 June 2014). "The Donbass Battalion prepares to save Ukraine from separatists". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
^ Käihkö, Ilmari (21 March 2018). "The War Between People in Ukraine". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
^ "'Men in black', the new defenders of Ukraine, announce mission to liberate Southeastern Ukraine from Russian terrorists". Euromaidan Press. 28 April 2014.
^ 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.
^ "Соорганизатор блокады железной дороги в Луганской области заявил о ее расширении". gordonua.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.

[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.

[guard-2] "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.

[Gard_SESE-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.

[:0-7] 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.

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