Active 21 June 2014 Role Special operations | Branch Army Size about 1,000 troops | |
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Part of United Armed Forces of NovorossiyaMiner's Division | ||
The "Kalmius" Brigade), a military unit of the Donetsk People's Republic, operates within the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya. Media often refer to it as a battalion of special purpose. As of the end of June 2015 Konstantin Kuzmin commanded the unit. The unit's name comes from the river of the same name, one of the largest rivers in Donbass. On February 16, 2015 the "Kalmius" battalion was included in the sanctions list of the European Union and of Canada.
The unit's core comprises mainly volunteers; as of fall 2014 the unit had the following structure:
History
The "Kalmius" Battalion was established on June 21, 2014. The baptism of fire for the battalion came on 26–27 June 2014 in Donetsk, after the intervention of the Internal Troops of Ukraine. Former miners constitute the core of the Battalion, original strength being about five hundred people. The first commander was Fedor Berezin, who later became deputy of Igor Girkin.
On June 26–27, the battalion took part in an assault, which occurred without casualties; since July, the battalion was involved in the fighting near Donetsk. In August, the Battalion captured 13 Ukrainian officers, including a colonel. In January 2015, the "Kalmius" battalion did participate in battles around Debaltseve.