Kharakternyky Battalion
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Kharakternyky Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Батальйон Характерники | |
| Active | 2024 – Present |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Type | Penal battalion |
| Size | 400–800 |
| Nickname(s) | The Magicians |
| Engagements | Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Unknown |
The Kharakternyky Battalion is a Ukrainian penal battalion that was formed in 2024 after the Verkhovna Rada passed Registered draft law No. 11079 which allowed for the mobilization of convicts.[1][2][3]
History
The battalion was formed in 2024 after a bill was passed and then signed into law by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky which allowed for the mobilization of convicts into the Ukrainian Army.[4] Like with the Russian Storm-Z and Storm-V units, the Kharakternyky Battalion's members are recruited from prisons on the premise that successful service would result in a deduction of their sentence.[5] The battalion was reported to have 400 to 800 members.[6] The battalion is attached to the 24th Mechanized Brigade.[7]
References
- ^ "The Latest in a Long Line: Ukraine's International Legion and a History of Foreign Fighters". Harvard International Review. 2 September 2022.
- ^ Dysa, Yuliia; Balmforth, Tom (8 May 2024). "Ukraine lawmakers back bill allowing some convicts to enlist in army". Reuters. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine moves to send convicts to the front line — minus the rapists and killers". Politico. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ https://babel.ua/en/news/107201-president-zelensky-signed-the-law-on-the-voluntary-mobilization-of-convicts
- ^ https://www.5.ua/suspilstvo/otrymaly-druhyi-shans-v-ukraini-ziavyvsia-batalion-kharakternyky-iakyi-skladaietsia-iz-zasudzhenykh-330654.html
- ^ https://babel.ua/en/news/108847-kharakternyky-battalion-has-appeared-in-ukraine-it-consists-of-convicts
- ^ https://www.komersant.info/en/kharakternyky-u-zsu-z-iavyvsia-batalyon-z-kolyshnikh-v-iazniv-3/