Bogdan Khmelnitsky Battalion
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| Bogdan Khmelnitsky Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Батальон Богдана Хмельницкого | |
 Unit insignia | |
| Founded | February 2023 |
| Allegiance |  Russia |
| Type | Militia |
| Size | Unknown |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Andrii Tyshchenko[1] |
The Bogdan Khmelnitsky Battalion (Russian: Батальон Богдана Хмельницкого), or Bohdan Khmelnytsky Battalion is, according to Russian state media, a Russian "volunteer battalion" formed in February 2023, allegedly from Ukrainian POWs that have defected to the Russian Army.[2] The battalion is named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, a Ruthenian nobleman and Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host, which was under the suzerainty of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time of his rule.[3]
History[edit]
The battalion, according to Russian state-controlled media, was created in February 2023 in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast.[4] The formation's alleged commander, Andrii Tyshchenko, told RIA Novosti, that they recruited around 70 Ukrainian POWs in February alone.[5] RIA Novosti calls the battalion "volunteer," claiming that its members joined the formation "voluntarily, having accepted Russian citizenship if they joined the battalion."[6]
Russian sources claimed that the Russian command would treat members of the battalion in the same way as Russian soldiers and that they would receive the same salaries and benefits.[7]
Russian state-controlled sources claimed that on 28 December 2023, the battalion engaged Ukrainian forces near the village of Urozhaine.[8]
Use of POWs[edit]
The battalion is allegedly made up of Ukrainian PoWs who have defected to Russia.[9] Coercion of POWs into combat would violate the Article 23 of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, which says that "no prisoner of war may at any time be sent to or detained in areas where he may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone."[10][11][12]
It was reported that after taking an oath, the battalion was deployed to an unspecified part of the frontline.[13][14][15]
Human Rights Watch said that it was "hard to imagine" that the men of the battalion were taking part of their own free will.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ "Fears Ukrainian POWs have been coerced to fight against their fellow citizens by Russia, says ISW". 28 October 2023.
- ^ Shashkova, Maryna (2023-12-29). "Kyiv Intelligence Disputes Russian Claims of Ukrainian POW Battalion". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Entry Display Web Page".
- ^ "Russian state media: Ukrainian POWs will fight for Russia in Ukraine". 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Russian Media Claims Ukrainian POWs Have Volunteered to Fight for Moscow". 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Russian state media: Ukrainian POWs will fight for Russia in Ukraine". 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Russia may deploy battalion composed of Ukrainian POWs to front".
- ^ https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3806689-russia-has-deployed-battalion-of-ukrainian-prisoners-of-war-to-frontline-isw.html
- ^ Parfitt, Tom. "Russia 'sends captured Ukrainian fighters to battle Kyiv's troops'".
- ^ "Russia to deploy Ukrainian POWs in conflict, breaching Geneva convention: ISW - English Section - polskieradio.pl". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Russia likely coercing Ukrainian POWs to fight in Russian Military: ISW". Newsweek. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Russia sent a unit of Ukrainian POWs into battle against their own countrymen, analysts say". 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Russian state media: Ukrainian POWs will fight for Russia in Ukraine". 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Fears Ukrainian POWs have been coerced to fight against their fellow citizens by Russia, says ISW". Business Insider.
- ^ AP (2023-11-08). "Ukrainian PoWs being sent to fight their own army, Russian news claims". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Russia reportedly is using Ukrainian POWs to fight in their homeland on Moscow's side".
