Somalia Battalion

The Somalia Battalion (Russian: Батальон «Сомали») is an elite separatist military unit of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic in Ukraine, which has been fighting against the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbas War and the 2022 Russian invasion. The battalion's full name is 1st Separate Tank Battalion Somalia (previously 1st Separate Tactical Battalion Group Somalia).[1] The battalion took the name "Somalia" because, according to its former commander Mikhail Tolstykh (alias Givi), its members are "as fearless as Somalis".[2] According to Givi, 70% of the battalions personnel previously fought in the 1st Slavyansk Brigade.[3]

Somalia Battalion
Батальон «Сомали»

Sleeve insignia

Flag
Allegiance Donetsk People's Republic
TypeSeparatist group
ColorsBlack, blue, red, and white
EngagementsWar in Donbas
Siege of Mariupol
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Mikhail 'Givi' Tolstykh †
Timur Kurilkin (Bajkot)

The unit is permanently stationed in Donetsk and Makiivka.[1] Its current commander is Timur Kurilkin.[4]

History

The Somalia Battalion was formed in 2014 and participated in the Donbas War. It was originally a special task force under the Ministry of Defense of the Donetsk People's Republic,[5] a self-proclaimed breakaway state in eastern Ukraine. In 2015 the breakaway states Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic, and all their military units, were designated as terrorist organisations by the Supreme Court of Ukraine.[6][7] The Security Service of Ukraine has been pursuing unit members in order to detain them since then.[8][9]

In February 2017, the unit's commander, Mikhail Tolstykh ('Givi'), was assassinated in his office with a RPO-A Shmel rocket launcher. It is alleged he was killed by his own side because he knew who shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, or that he was killed by Ukrainian forces.[5]

The battalion took part in the Siege of Mariupol alongside Russian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[10] In April the leader of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, awarded the title of Hero of the DPR to the commander Lieutenant Colonel Timur Kurilkin, for his actions in Mariupol. Also from the Russian Federation, Kurilkin was awarded with the state award the Order of Courage.[10]

Equipment

The battalion has T-64 and T-72 tanks, BMP-1, BTR-70, MT-LB and BRDM-2 armoured fighting vehicles as well as supporting artillery, mortars and transport vehicles.[1]

See also

References
  1. "1-й Отдельный танковый батальон «Сомали», в/ч 08809" (in Russian). Stopterror.in.ua. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 8 Feb 2017.
  2. "The Battle of Ilovaisk: Details of a Massacre Inside Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine". Newsweek. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 8 Feb 2017.
  3. "Another day with Givi 14/10/14". YouTube. Retrieved 16 Oct 2014.
  4. ХАНАРИН, Никита МАКАРЕНКОВ | Павел (2022-04-03). "Донбасскому комбату «Сомали» Тимуру Курилкину присвоили звание Героя ДНР и передали Орден Мужества от Путина". donetsk.kp.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  5. Šmíd, Tomáš & Šmídová, Alexandra. (2021). Anti-government Non-state Armed Actors in the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Czech Journal of International Relations, Volume 56, Issue 2. pp.45-46.
  6. "Про Заяву Верховної Ради України "Про визнання Україною юрисдикції Міжнародного кримінального суду щодо скоєння злочинів проти людяності та воєнних злочинів вищими посадовими особами Російської Федерації та керівниками терористичних організацій "ДНР" та "ЛНР", які призвели до особливо тяжких наслідків та масового вбивства українських громадян"]". Verkhovna Rada (in Ukrainian).
  7. "Постанова Верховного Суду щодо визнання діяльності терористичною". Supreme Court of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
  8. "Leader of "Brianka USSR" terrorist group is convicted to 15-year imprisonment". Security Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  9. "Donetsk region: SBU uncovers militant who mined six bridges". Security Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  10. "Донбасскому комбату «Сомали» Тимуру Курилкину присвоили звание Героя ДНР и передали Орден Мужества от Путина". 3 April 2022.
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