Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion

Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion
Russian: Батальон имени Павла Судоплатова
Coat of arms of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Founded	September 2022 (September 2022)
Country	Russia
Allegiance	Russia
Type	Militia
Size	600+ (claimed, January 2023)[1]
Engagements	Russian invasion of Ukraine 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive[2]
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

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

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

References

1. "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. "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. "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".