Shkval Battalion
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{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Shkval Battalion
| native_name = Батальйон Шквал
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| image_size = 200
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| dates = 2024 – Present
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| allegiance = {{flagu|Ukraine}}
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| type = Penal military unit
| role = Assault troops{{Cite web|url=https://www.komersant.info/en/ministr-iustytsii-rozpoviv-de-sluzhytymut-mobilizovani-v-iazni-3/|title=Minister of Justice tells where mobilised prisoners will serve - Ukrainian Komersant|first=Остафійчук|last=Ярослав|date=May 28, 2024}}
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| battles = Russian Invasion of Ukraine
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| current_commander = "Oleksandr"{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/07/15/7465711/|title=Ukraine's Armed Forces show how former prisoners cleared Russian position in Donetsk Oblast – video|website=Ukrainska Pravda}}{{Cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/bradley-supported-shkval-unit-prevents-russian-foothold-in-novoselivka-persha/|title=Bradley-Supported "Shkval" Unit Prevents Russian Foothold in Novoselivka Persha}}{{Cite web|url=https://unn.ua/en/news/chief-sergeant-of-the-shkval-battalion-about-ex-prisoners-they-destroy-the-enemy-in-large-numbers|title=Chief Sergeant of the “Shkval” battalion about ex-prisoners: they destroy the enemy in large numbers | УНН|date=December 13, 2024|website=unn.ua}}
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Shkval Battalion is a Ukrainian military unit made up of former convicts.{{Cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/the-shkval-unit-staffed-by-former-prisoners-appeared-in-the-structure-of-the-marine-corps/|title=The Shkval unit, staffed by former prisoners, appeared in the structure of the Marine Corps}} It was formed after the Verkhovna Rada passed Registered draft law No. 11079 which allowed for the mobilization of convicts into the Ukrainian Army.{{cite news |last1=Dysa |first1=Yuliia |last2=Balmforth |first2=Tom |title=Ukraine lawmakers back bill allowing some convicts to enlist in army |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-lawmakers-back-bill-allowing-some-convicts-enlist-army-2024-05-08/ |access-date=13 May 2024 |work=Reuters |date=8 May 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Ukraine moves to send convicts to the front line — minus the rapists and killers |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukrainian-parliament-approves-voluntary-mobilization-of-convicts-for-war-ukraine-russia/ |access-date=13 May 2024 |work=Politico |date=8 May 2024 |language=en}}
History
=Formation=
Members of the battalion are offered wages ranging from $500 to $4,000 per month, depending on time spent on the front line. However, they are required serve in the military until the end of the war.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/europe/pokrovsk-ukraine-prisoners-enlist-soldiers-intl-cmd/index.html|title=From convict to combatant, Ukraine enlists prisoners to fight Russian forces | CNN|first=Sebastian Shukla, Frederik|last=Pleitgen|website=CNN |date=September 11, 2024}} Members of the battalion were then trained by other Ukrainian units.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/28/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-884|title=Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 884|website=Al Jazeera}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/29/ukraine-war-briefing-russia-claims-capture-of-two-villages-in-donetsk|title=Ukraine war briefing: Russia claims capture of two villages in Donetsk|date=July 29, 2024|newspaper=The Guardian}} In September 2024, the 59th Brigade's Shkval battalion told reporters that they are making legal requests in order to allow more murderers of various degrees to join their ranks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.egyptindependent.com/from-convict-to-combatant-ukraine-enlists-prisoners-to-fight-russian-forces/|title=From convict to combatant, Ukraine enlists prisoners to fight Russian forces|date=September 11, 2024}}
=Treatment and use=
Protection for Prisoners of Ukraine leader Oleg Tsvily said that his organization "supports the idea behind the law but the text that was passed is discriminatory".{{Cite web|url=https://www.turkiyetoday.com/world/ukraine-approves-bill-allowing-prisoners-to-join-armed-forces-amid-manpower-shortage-17404/|title=Ukraine approves bill allowing prisoners to join armed forces amid manpower shortage - Türkiye Today}} He also raised concerns about convicts being abused by their commanders and used as cannon fodder.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/8/ukraine-parliament-passes-bill-for-prisoners-to-join-army|title=Ukraine parliament passes bill for prisoners to join army|website=Al Jazeera}}{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ukraine-parliament-passes-bill-allowing-prisoners-to-join-military-amid-personnel-shortage/articleshow/109973651.cms?from=mdr|title=Ukraine parliament passes bill allowing prisoners to join military amid personnel shortage|date=May 9, 2024|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}} Some convicts said that they had only had 20 days of training before being sent to the frontline.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ukrainian-convicts-take-up-arms-in-bid-for-redemption-198392|title=Ukrainian convicts take up arms in bid for redemption - World News|date=July 12, 2024|website=Hürriyet Daily News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/ukrainian-convicts-seize-2nd-chance-on-frontlines-amid-russian-war|title=Ukrainian convicts seize 2nd chance on frontlines amid Russian war|first=Agence France-Presse-|last=AFP|date=July 12, 2024|website=Daily Sabah}}
=Combat performance=
Shkval battalions saw action during the Pokrovsk offensive. Ukrainian media outlets reported that Shkval Battalions fight bravely and made claims that they "destroy Russian forces in large numbers."{{Cite web|url=https://www.uawire.org/ex-convicts-turn-heroes-ukrainian-shkval-battalion-captures-russian-positions-in-donetsk-region|title=UAWire - Ex-convicts turn heroes: Ukrainian 'Shkval' battalion captures Russian positions in Donetsk region|website=www.uawire.org}} One officer with the callsign "Kit" spoke with UNN about the 47th Mechanized Brigade's Shkval Battalion where he praised their motivation but said that there were "issues with their upbringing". The unit took part in the defense of the village Druzhba.{{Cite web|url=https://suspilne.media/odesa/893417-ca-vijna-vidmie-im-karmu-ak-vouut-kolisni-uvazneni-u-skladi-odeskoi-28-brigadi/|title="Ця війна відмиє їм карму": як воюють колишні увʼязнені у складі 28 бригади|first=Дмитро|last=Васильєв|date=December 2, 2024|website=Суспільне | Новини}} Yevgeny Alkhimov, an officer of the 28th Mechanized Brigade, praised the soldiers of the brigade's Shkval battalion after an assault on Russia positions northeast of the city of Toretsk saying that the soldiers "showed themselves very well at the tactical level in order to level the positions, to somehow improve our situation. Actually, they stormed enemy positions and repulsed them".{{Cite web|url=https://suspilne.media/donbas/899041-na-pivnic-vid-torecka-zsu-proveli-vdalu-kontrataku-recnik-28-brigadi-rozpoviv-pro-boi-bila-mista/|title=На північ від Торецька ЗСУ провели вдалу контратаку|first=Андрій|last=Коник|date=December 10, 2024|website=Суспільне | Новини}}
Units with Shkval Battalions
- 28th Mechanized Brigade{{Cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/the-shkval-battalion-of-the-28th-mechanized-brigade-knocks-russians-out-of-their-position-near-toretsk/|title=The Shkval Battalion of the 28th Mechanized Brigade knocks Russians out of their position near Toretsk}}
- 35th Marine Brigade
- 47th Mechanized Brigade (Nicknamed Squall Battalion){{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/07/15/7465711/|title=Ukraine’s Armed Forces show how former prisoners cleared Russian position in Donetsk Oblast – video|website=Ukrainska Pravda}}
- 57th Motorized Brigadehttps://hromadske.radio/news/2024/08/20/vybraly-inshu-doliu-iak-sluzhat-kolyshni-v
- 59th Motorized Brigade (Nicknamed Wind Gust Battalion){{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/from-convict-to-combatant-ukraine-enlists-prisoners-to-fight-russian-forces-1.7033638|title=From convict to combatant, Ukraine enlists prisoners to fight Russian forces|date=September 11, 2024|website=CTVNews}}
- 93rd Mechanized Brigade 22px (Nicknamed Alkatraz. Also known as the Specialized Rifle Battalion){{Cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/93rd-kholodny-yar-brigade-ex-prisoners-show-over-200-motivation/|title=93rd 'Kholodny Yar' Brigade: Ex-Prisoners Show Over 200% Motivation}}
- 129th Territorial Defense Brigadehttps://suspilne.media/sumy/937197-mi-persi-prapor-ukraini-postavili-na-storoni-rosian-ak-vouut-kolisni-uvazneni-u-skladi-specpidrozdilu-skval/
