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[[File:Раненый Артист Новороссии быть!.ogv|thumbnail|right|Soldiers of the Sparta Battalion during the [[Second Battle of Donetsk Airport]]]] |
[[File:Раненый Артист Новороссии быть!.ogv|thumbnail|right|Soldiers of the Sparta Battalion during the [[Second Battle of Donetsk Airport]]]] |
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The '''Sparta Battalion''' ({{lang-ru|батальон «Спарта»}}) is a rebel militant group of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] (DPR) formerly led by the Russian-born [[Arsen Pavlov]] (callsign "'''Motorola'''") militant until his death in October 2016, and then by [[Vladimir Zhoga]] ({{Lang-ru|Владимир Жога}}, callsign "Vokha"), a DPR fighter from [[Sloviansk]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Separatist known as Vokha will become new commander of the Sparta Battalion|url=http://uawire.org/news/separatist-with-a-call-sign-vokha-will-become-a-new-commander-of-the-sparta-battalion|work=UA Wire|date=24 October 2016|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> until his death on 5 March 2022 at [[Volnovakha]], Ukraine.<ref name="Batchelor 2022">{{cite web | last=Batchelor | first=Tom | title=Russian commanders killed in Putin’s war as Ukraine invasion ‘not going to plan’ | website=The Independent | date=2022-03-24 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-commanders-general-killed-ukraine-b2043104.html | access-date=2022-03-31}}</ref> The battalion took part in the [[Battle of Ilovaisk]] and [[Second Battle of Donetsk Airport]] and several others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2014/11/14/battle-ilovaisk-details-massacre-inside-rebel-held-eastern-ukraine-282003.html|title=The Battle of Ilovaisk: Details of a Massacre Inside Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine|date=4 November 2014|publisher=Newsweek|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-live-day-335-the-battle-for-donetsk/|title=Ukraine Live Day 335: The Battle for Donetsk|date=18 January 2015|publisher=The Interpreter|access-date=19 September 2015}} |
The '''Sparta Battalion''' ({{lang-ru|батальон «Спарта»}}) is a rebel militant group of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] (DPR) formerly led by the Russian-born [[Arsen Pavlov]] (callsign "'''Motorola'''") militant until his death in October 2016, and then by [[Vladimir Zhoga]] ({{Lang-ru|Владимир Жога}}, callsign "Vokha"), a DPR fighter from [[Sloviansk]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Separatist known as Vokha will become new commander of the Sparta Battalion|url=http://uawire.org/news/separatist-with-a-call-sign-vokha-will-become-a-new-commander-of-the-sparta-battalion|work=UA Wire|date=24 October 2016|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> until his death on 5 March 2022 at [[Volnovakha]], Ukraine.<ref name="Batchelor 2022">{{cite web | last=Batchelor | first=Tom | title=Russian commanders killed in Putin’s war as Ukraine invasion ‘not going to plan’ | website=The Independent | date=2022-03-24 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-commanders-general-killed-ukraine-b2043104.html | access-date=2022-03-31}}</ref> The battalion took part in the [[Battle of Ilovaisk]] and [[Second Battle of Donetsk Airport]] and several others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2014/11/14/battle-ilovaisk-details-massacre-inside-rebel-held-eastern-ukraine-282003.html|title=The Battle of Ilovaisk: Details of a Massacre Inside Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine|date=4 November 2014|publisher=Newsweek|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-live-day-335-the-battle-for-donetsk/|title=Ukraine Live Day 335: The Battle for Donetsk|date=18 January 2015|publisher=The Interpreter|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
Revision as of 14:24, 31 March 2022
Sparta Battalion | |
---|---|
Батальон «Спарта» | |
Service sleeve insignia of the Sparta Battalion Flag of the Sparta Battalion | |
Active | Summer 2014 – present |
Allegiance | Donetsk People's Republic |
Branch | Army |
Role | Special Forces |
Size | about 7,200 troops |
Part of | United Armed Forces of Novorossiya |
Garrison/HQ | Donetsk |
Nickname(s) | Motorola's Division |
Engagements | War in Donbas |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Artem Zhoga |
Notable commanders | Arsen Pavlov † Vladimir Zhoga † |
The Sparta Battalion (Russian: батальон «Спарта») is a rebel militant group of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) formerly led by the Russian-born Arsen Pavlov (callsign "Motorola") militant until his death in October 2016, and then by Vladimir Zhoga (Russian: Владимир Жога, callsign "Vokha"), a DPR fighter from Sloviansk,[1] until his death on 5 March 2022 at Volnovakha, Ukraine.[2] The battalion took part in the Battle of Ilovaisk and Second Battle of Donetsk Airport and several others.[3][4]
History
According to Ukrainian sources, the unit was formed in August 2014 in Donetsk, based on the previously existing anti-tank/MG troop led by Pavlov which earlier reportedly participated in Battle of Ilovaisk along with Strelkov's "volunteer" forces.[5][6]
In 2015 the LNR/DNR's "military units" were designated as "terrorist organisations" by Supreme Court of Ukraine.[7][8] Security Service of Ukraine has been pursuing units members in order to detain them since then.[9][10][non-primary source needed]
Timeline of battles
In 2014 the battalion took part in the Battle of Illovaisk.[5]
In 2015 they fought in the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport.[11]
In January 2015 they participated in the Battle of Debaltseve.[12]
In March 2016 they were in the armed skirmish in Dokuchaievsk.[13]
In September 2016 the group was deployed into Lugansk People's Republic, with the stated aim of preventing an anticipated coup d'état.[14]
In March 2022, the group's commander Colonel Vladimir Zhoga was killed at Volnovakha in the course of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[15][16] He was posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of the Russian Federation" by Russian president Vladimir Putin.[17]
Branovitsky case
In April 2015 Russian deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia Amnesty International, Denis Krivosheev, blamed the group's leader Arsen Pavlov for killing and torturing Ukrainian POWs.[18][19] According to Krivosheev, Pavlov said in an interview to the Kyiv Post that he killed Ukrainian Branovitsky Igor who was prisoner of war at the time of his detention and who suffered several facial wounds and wasn't able to walk.[19][20] In an controversial tape which was published on YouTube in April 2015 which features voices of both of the Kyiv Post's journalist and a voice allegedly belonging to Pavlov, with the latter claiming to have killed 15 prisoners when the journalist asked him about Branovitsky.[21][22] Amnesty called for thorough investigation of the crime.[19] In February 2015, Ukrainian SSU had started an investigation into the allegations.[23][24][22]
In June it was reported by a Ukraine official that Interpol refused to put Pavlov on their wanted list on the grounds of the "political nature of the Motorola case".[25][26]
Membership
Members' names were posted on Facebook on 5 April 2015 by Vyacheslav Abroskin, head of Donetsk Oblast's police. At least 40 names were listed.[22]
Gallery
Arsen Pavlov with his troops on BTR-70s during the rehearsal of the 2015 Donetsk Victory Day parade
Arsen Pavlov and Sparta Battalion troops on a BTR-80 during the 2016 Donetsk Victory Day parade
See also
- Separatist forces of the war in Donbas
- Combatants of the war in Donbas
- Prizrak Brigade
- Somalia Battalion
References
- ^ "Separatist known as Vokha will become new commander of the Sparta Battalion". UA Wire. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ Batchelor, Tom (2022-03-24). "Russian commanders killed in Putin's war as Ukraine invasion 'not going to plan'". The Independent. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ "The Battle of Ilovaisk: Details of a Massacre Inside Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine". Newsweek. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Ukraine Live Day 335: The Battle for Donetsk". The Interpreter. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Полевой командир "Моторола": от Чечни до Донбасса". www.depo.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "Комбат "Моторола": как мойщик машин стал командиром батальона "Спарта"". Рамблер/новости (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-05-02.
Собранный как противотанковый бронебойный, отряд вскоре разросся.
- ^ "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).
- ^ "Постанова Верховного Суду щодо визнання діяльності терористичною". Supreme Court of Ukraine (in Ukrainian).
- ^ "Leader of "Brianka USSR" terrorist group is convicted to 15-year imprisonment". Security Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Donetsk region: SBU uncovers militant who mined six bridges". Security Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Бой за Донецкий аэропорт. Спартанцы против киборгов". Life.ru (in Russian). 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "Новый командир батальона "Спарта" сообщил подробности гибели Моторолы". lenta.ru. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "У ДНР потери — Спарта Моторолы бессильна в Докучаевске (видео)". kriminal.tv (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "Подразделение Моторолы перебросили в ЛНР". lenta.ru. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "Глава ДНР сообщил о гибели полковника Владимира Жога". 1news.az (in Russian). 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Leader of so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" killed in action near Volnovakha". Ukrayinska Pravda. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
- ^ "Путин присвоил звание Героя России посмертно командиру батальону "Спарта" Владимиру Жоге". tass.ru (in Russian). 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ ""Бойцы батальона "Спарта" фактически причастны к тому, что называется военным преступлением"". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ a b c "New evidence of summary killings of Ukrainian soldiers must spark urgent investigations". www.amnesty.org. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "War Crimes: Russian citizen Motorola boasts of killing 15 Ukrainian prisoners - Apr. 09, 2015". KyivPost. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ KyivPost (2015-04-06), Motorola confesses he murdered 15 prisoners. Признание Моторолы в убийстве 15 пленных, retrieved 2019-05-02
- ^ a b c Sukhov, Oleg (2015-04-10). "I killed 15 prisoners of war in Ukraine, claims Russian fighter". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "СБУ взялась за Моторолу. Боевику оформлено подозрение в преступлениях против человечности". nv.ua. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "СБУ оформила подозрение Мотороле". Украинская правда (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "Interpol refuses to search for Russian militant suspected of war crimes in Donbas". Human Rights in Ukraine. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ "Интерпол отказался искать Моторолу". korrespondent.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-05-02.
External links
- Airport Donetsk (English subtitles), a video featuring members of the unit. (December 2015)