Special Police Forces (Ukraine)

The Special Police Forces (Ukrainian: Спеціальні поліцейські сили, romanized: Spetsialni politseiski syly) is a Ukrainian volunteer corps of law enforcement units, part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.[2] It was originally created for prevention of criminal encroachment and defence of civil order on 15 April 2014, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3] During the ongoing war in Donbas, the forces of the Special Tasks Patrol Police have fought against pro-Russian separatists as a paramilitary force.[4]

Not to be confused with National Guard of Ukraine, Territorial defence battalions of Ukraine, or Special Forces of Ukraine.

Special Police Forces
Спеціальні поліцейські сили
Ministry of Internal Affairs emblem
Ministry of Internal Affairs emblem
Agency overview
Formed15 April 2014
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionUkraine
Operational structure
Minister responsible
Parent agencyMinistry of Internal Affairs

History

In April 2014, Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov issued an order to create battalions of special purpose within the Ministry of Internal Affairs structure.[5] Their goal was to protect public order and important facilities across Ukraine, but all of these units were eventually sent to the east to counter Russian aggression.[2] After the reformation of National Police in 2015, the units were reformed as Special Task Patrol Police units.[4]

The SPF inducted its first Offensive Guard Police Brigade in February 2023 to cope with the needs of the NPU in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Liut (Fury) Brigade was activated that month on orders from the MIA of Ukraine and is composed of personnel from the SPF formations.

List of Special Tasks Patrol Police units

Special Police Forces

Former special police units
  • Azov Battalion (батальйон "Азов") – a volunteer battalion which became notable for its participation on the Battle of Mariupol and controversial as it was formed by members coming from ultranationalist and neonazi parties.[6][7] In September 2014, it was expanded into a regiment and transferred to the command of the National Guard of Ukraine.[6]
  • Shakhtarsk Battalion (батальйон ПСМОП "Шахтарськ") – A former all volunteer territorial defence battalion of mostly former convicts from Donbas established in Shakhtarsk in June 2014 (because the battalion is reporting to the Interior Ministry its members became formally police officers).[8] In October 2014 the unit was disbanded after 50 members of the battalion were accused of looting and hooliganism.[9] The battalion was then resurrected as the "Tornado" police battalion.[8]
  • Tornado battalion – After the "Shakhtarsk" police battalion was disbanded in October 2014 after 50 members of the battalion were accused of looting and hooliganism.[9] it was resurrected as the "Tornado" police battalion.[8] The battalion was about 100 people strong and most members were former convicts from Donbas (because the battalion is reporting to the Interior Ministry its members were formally police officers).[8] On 18 June 2015 the unit was disbanded after members were accused of looting, rape and torture.[10][11] Initially the battalion refused to stop operations and disarm.[12] Former battalion members were accused and arrested for smuggling cast iron from territory under separatist control.[13]
Robed woman, seated, with sword on her lap
Members of the "Sich" Battalion in a formation.
Robed woman, seated, with sword on her lap
Volunteers of the special police "Azov" Battalion

See also

References
  1. Parliament appoints Monastyrsky as Ukraine's interior minister, Ukrinform (16 July 2021)
  2. Прищепа, Ярослав (24 February 2022). "Вторгнення Росії і що відбувається на Донбасі". Суспільне | Новини (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. «Нацполіція і Нацгвардія мають бути, як ви – бійці добробатів», – Арсен Аваков (ФОТО, ВІДЕО). mvs.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. Friedman, Masha Gessen, Misha. "The Cops Who Would Save a Country". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 21 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "Central Asia's New Best Friends Cement Relations". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. "Ultra-nationalist Ukrainian battalion gears up for more fighting | Reuters". Reuters. 24 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  7. "Inside Azov, the far-Right brigade killing Russian generals and playing a PR game in the Ukraine war". The Telegraph. 18 March 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  8. Convicts-turned-cops on forefront of Ukraine's battle against Russia, Kyiv Post (18 February 2015)
  9. "Shakhtarsk battalion disbanded over looting claims". Interfax.
  10. http://www.rferl.org Web results 'Tornado' Trial Tests Kyiv's Ability To Rein In Rogue Paramilitaries
  11. Ukrainian interior minister dissolves 'Tornado' task force, several members arrested for serious crimes, Interfax-Ukraine (18 June 2015)
  12. Куандыкова, Жанель (18 June 2015). Бойцы расформированного батальона «Торнадо» пригрозили Киеву стрельбой (in Russian). rbc.ru. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  13. Commander of volunteer unit detained amid smuggling scandal, Kyiv Post (18 June 2015)
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