Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion

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Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion
Russian: Батальон имени Павла Судоплатова
FoundedSeptember 2022 (September 2022)
Country Russia
Allegiance Russia
TypeMilitia
Size600+ (claimed, January 2023)[1]
EngagementsRussian invasion of Ukraine
Commanders
Current
commander
Yevgeny Balitsky

The Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion (Russian: Батальон имени Павла Судоплатова) is a Russian volunteer battalion in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast of Ukraine named after the Soviet intelligence officer and Melitopol native Pavel Sudoplatov. [3]

History[edit]

The battalion was established in September 2022[4][5] and consists of pro-Russian Ukrainians[6] and foreign volunteers.[7] It is allied with the Russian-installed authorities in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and led by Yevgeny Balitsky,[5] whose son is also a member of the battalion.[1]

The PSB was formally registered as the State Unitary Enterprise "Volunteer Battalion named after P.A. Sudoplatov" by the Federal Taxation Service.[8] Volunteers are paid 400,000 rubles or 5,000 US dollars.[8]

On 4 July, 2023, the Battalion would be subordinated into the BARS-32 ceasing its existence as an independent unit.[9]

Foreign fighters[edit]

Foreigners who have been recruited to the PSB include nationals from Serbia,[10] Sweden and Turkey.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Добровольцы из Сербии поступили в батальон имени Судоплатова". РИА Новости (in Russian). 13 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  2. ^ "The volunteer battalion named after Sudoplatov thwarted an enemy attempt to occupy strongholds in Zaporizhzhia". 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Russia 'Normalizing' Occupation Regime in Southern Ukraine (Part Two)". Jamestown.
  4. ^ "В Запорожье создали батальон в честь организатора убийства Льва Троцкого Павла Судоплатова - Газета.Ru | Новости". Газета.Ru (in Russian). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  5. ^ a b "Балицкий: добровольцы из Сербии поступили в батальон имени Судоплатова в Запорожской области". Газета.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  6. ^ Григорьев, Дмитрий (2022-11-23). "Батальон имени Судоплатова. Запорожцы встречают ВСУ с оружием в руках". AiF (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  7. ^ "В батальоне Судоплатова ждут добровольцев из Европы". РИА Новости (in Russian). 17 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  8. ^ a b "ГУП "Добровольческий батальон". Воюющее в Украине формирование впервые зарегистрировали в России как бизнес Русская служба". BBC News. 2023-03-09. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27.
  9. ^ CDS (2023-04-08). "CDS Daily brief (07.04.23) | CDS comments on key events". Центр оборонних стратегій (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  10. ^ "Serbian Volunteers Start Combat Training in Ukraine, President Vucic Asks Russia to Stop Recruiting Its People: Break the Rules".
  11. ^ "Volunteers from Turkey join Zaporozhye Region's Sudoplatov battalion".