Krym Battalion
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Krym Battalion
| native_name = {{native name|uk|Добровольчий спецпідрозділ МВС України «Крим»}}
{{native name|crh|Ukraina İçki işler nazirliginiñ göñülli mahsus bölügi «Qırım»}}
| image = Емблема добровольчого спецпідрозділу МВС України «Крим».png
| image_size = 200
| caption = Battalion's shoulder sleeve with 2 crossed sabers and tamga, an ancient symbol and the national coat of arms of the Crimean Tatars.
| dates = 2014 – present
| country = {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}
| allegiance =
| branch =
| type =
| role = Counterinsurgency
| size = 600
| command_structure = 20px Ministry of Internal Affairs
| garrison = Kherson, Kherson Oblast
| commander1 = {{ill|Isa Akaev|uk|Іса Акаєв}}
| notable_commanders =
| march =
| mascot =
| battles = {{Tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
| decorations =
}}
The Krym Battalion ({{langx|uk|Батальйон «Крим»|translit=batalyon «Krym»}}; {{Langx|crh|«Qırım» batalyonı}}) is a Crimean Tatar military volunteer unit subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Created in June 2014, until March 2015, it participated in anti-terrorist operations in Eastern Ukraine as part of a company of the Special Tasks Patrol Police unit Dnipro-1.{{cite news|url=http://www.dnes.bg/redakcia/2014/10/02/polumesec-nad-krim.240750|title=Полумесец над Крим|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129162119/http://www.dnes.bg/redakcia/2014/10/02/polumesec-nad-krim.240750 |archive-date=29 November 2014}} The battalion is based in Kherson.
On November 12, 2014, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the leader of the Crimean Tatar national movement, Mustafa Dzhemilev, announced the reformation of the Crimean Tatar company into a battalion.{{cite web|url=http://ua.krymr.com/content/article/26689551.html|title=Мустафа Джемілєв обговорив з Порошенком створення кримськотатарського батальйону|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070430/http://ua.krymr.com/content/article/26689551.html|archive-date=29 November 2014 }}, Radiosvoboda.org, 13 November 2014{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/politics/2014/11/141114_crimea_tatars_army_vc|title=Кримськотатарський батальйон: подалі від російського призову|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117214118/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/politics/2014/11/141114_crimea_tatars_army_vc |archive-date=17 November 2014|publisher=BBC Україна|date=14 November 2014|language=uk}}
In March 2022, it joined the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine while still being a part of Dnipro-1 Regiment.
History
=Formation=
On April 14, 2014, then head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, signed an order on the creation of regional special units of the special police patrol service (ПСМОП), subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on civilian organizations.{{Cite web |url=http://ukr.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/mvd-nabiraet-dobrovolcev-specpodrazdeleniya-po-ohrane-poryadka-na-yugo-vostoke-513041.html |title=МВС набирає добровольців спецпідрозділу з охорони порядку на південному сході |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=26 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002224/https://ukr.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/mvd-nabiraet-dobrovolcev-specpodrazdeleniya-po-ohrane-poryadka-na-yugo-vostoke-513041.html }}
In a short period of time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs formed 30 volunteer battalions and companies of the special police patrol service with a total number of 5,660 people in different regions of Ukraine.{{Cite web |url=http://gazeta.ua/articles/np/_dlya-ato-miliciya-stvorila-30-pidrozdiliv-specpriznachenciv/564350?mobile=true |title=Для АТО міліція створила 30 підрозділів спецпризначенців |date=17 June 2014 |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054827/http://gazeta.ua/articles/np/_dlya-ato-miliciya-stvorila-30-pidrozdiliv-specpriznachenciv/564350?mobile=true }}
But at the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was de facto liquidated, which created a bureaucratic obstacle to the formation of a volunteer battalion based on the Crimean Tatar civil movement.
In early June, Dmytro Yarosh[http://www.informator.su/d-yarosh-obyavil-nabor-v-batalon-kryimskih-tatar-kryim/ Д. Ярош обьявил набор в батальон крымских татар «Крым»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129043931/http://www.informator.su/d-yarosh-obyavil-nabor-v-batalon-kryimskih-tatar-kryim/ |date=29 November 2014 }}, ІНФОРМАТОР.su, 5 June 2014 wrote on social media about the creation of a Crimean Tatar battalion under the auspices of the Right Sector to wage a partisan struggle on the peninsula. This project of Yarosh was not implemented.
In mid-June 2014, Semen Semenchenko, the commander of the newly created Donbas Battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine tried to overcome bureaucratic obstacles.{{Cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fql1DbdVIK0 |title=Новий батальйон "Крим" |website=YouTube |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=4 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404034109/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fql1DbdVIK0 }}{{Cite web |url=http://7days-ua.com/news/semenchenko-oholosyv-nabir-dobrovoltsiv-u-bataljon-krym/ |title=Семенченко оголосив набір добровольців у батальйон "Крим" |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129050656/http://7days-ua.com/news/semenchenko-oholosyv-nabir-dobrovoltsiv-u-bataljon-krym/ }} He announced a plan to form a "Krym Battalion" of the National Guard as part of a future Independent National Guard Brigade «Donbas».[http://tyzhden.ua/News/112619 Комбат "Донбасу" анонсував створення батальйону "Крим"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129065759/http://tyzhden.ua/News/112619 |date=29 November 2014 }}, Тиждень.ua, 19 June 2014
=Combat=
As part of an Independent "Crimean company" of the Dnipro-1 Regiment, volunteers took part in the Battle in Shakhtarsk Raion and the Battle of Ilovaisk, where they were surrounded. "Crimea" fighters reached Ilovaisk on August 19–20, when the threat of encirclement was already hanging over the volunteer battalions.{{Cite web |url=http://ukrpohliad.org/news/sotnya-kry-m-vzhe-voyuye-v-ilovajs-ku.html |title=Сотня "Крим" вже воює в Іловайську |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129105109/http://ukrpohliad.org/news/sotnya-kry-m-vzhe-voyuye-v-ilovajs-ku.html }}{{Cite web |url=http://censor.net.ua/photo_news/299154/pod_ilovayisk_na_podmogu_batalonam_donbass_i_dnepr_pribyla_dobrovolcheskaya_sotnya_krym_foto |title=Под Иловайск на подмогу батальонам "Донбасс" и "Днепр" прибыла добровольческая сотня "Крым". ФОТО |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=15 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915000934/http://censor.net.ua/photo_news/299154/pod_ilovayisk_na_podmogu_batalonam_donbass_i_dnepr_pribyla_dobrovolcheskaya_sotnya_krym_foto }}
On August 29, the head of Sector "B" (Сектор "Б"), General Ruslan Khomchak, gave the command to withdraw from the encirclement with a retreat in two columns.[http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2014/10/20/7041381/ Проміжний звіт ТСК з розслідування трагічних подій під Іловайськом] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223130212/http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2014/10/20/7041381/ |date=23 December 2014 }}, Українська правда, 20 October 2014 "Crimea" fighters moved in a column of the "Dnipro-1" battalion. In the area of the village of Chabany, near Starobesheve, they came under fire, after which they broke through the encirclement in small groups. On August 30–31, reports about their breakthrough appeared in the press and social networks.[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/08/31/7036309/ Сотня «Крим» з-під Іловайська: Коридору не було, колону тупо розстрілювали] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302125046/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/08/31/7036309/ |date=2 March 2016 }}, Українська правда, 31 August 2014 During the escape from encirclement, the personnel of the «Krym» Battalion experienced losses.{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/EuroMaydan/posts/675372155892458 |title=Отдельной сотни "Крым" удалось вырваться с окружения |website=Facebook |accessdate=21 November 2014 |archive-date=31 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831015459/https://www.facebook.com/EuroMaydan/posts/675372155892458 }}[https://twitter.com/eq0652/status/505787057415806976 Отдельная сотня Крим вырвалась из окружения!!!]
=Current status=
Mustafa Dzhemilev said that as of mid-November 2014, about 450 Crimean Tatars defended the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine in the ATO zone{{YouTube|id=nFNisL7pkjg|title=Хоробрі серця. Мирні жителі окупованих територій. Командир батальона Крим Іса}}
{{blockquote|It is not necessary that this military unit be purely Crimean Tatar, but it will be good if they are not scattered in different parts so that they can communicate in their native language, the religious factor must be taken into account. ... It is better that the Crimean Tatars serve in the Kherson region. In addition to the proximity to Crimea, thousands of Crimean Tatars live there who never returned to Crimea. ... One way or another, Crimea will be liberated someday. Apparently, this connection will enter Crimea}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/politics/2014/11/141114_crimea_tatars_army_vc|title=Кримськотатарський батальйон: подалі від російського призову|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117214118/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/politics/2014/11/141114_crimea_tatars_army_vc |archive-date=17 November 2014|publisher=BBC Україна|date=14 November 2014}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine}}
{{War in Donbas}}
Category:Crimea in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Category:Donetsk Oblast in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Category:Military units and formations established in 2014