| 49th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|
| 49-й окремий піхотний батальйон | |
 | |
| Active | 2014 – 2016 2022 – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Role | Infantry |
| Nickname(s) | Carpathian Sich Battalion |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Oleh Kutsyn Yevhen Skoryna [1] |
The Carpathian Sich 49th Infantry Battalion [a] [e] is a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces established in May 2022. It previously existed from 2014 to 2016.
Following the beginning of the war in Donbas, Oleh Kutsyn organised a group of volunteers dedicated to providing aid to Ukrainian soldiers. In the summer of 2014, the volunteers joined the National Guard of Ukraine. [2] On 23 May 2015, they officially became part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The same year, they participated in the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport, the Battle of Debaltseve, and the Battle of Marinka. [3]
However, on 13 April 2016, the Carpathian Sich Battalion was disbanded. Kutsyn claimed he had been deceived by the leadership of the 93rd Mechanised Brigade, which it had subordinated itself to under the condition that it was permitted to remain in the Donbas. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces disputed this, saying the volunteer battalion had been dissolved to bring the Armed Forces of Ukraine up to the standards of NATO, and that Carpathian Sich Battalion members had been given the offer to join other units. [3]
Following the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kutsyn re-founded the battalion with other former members. The new battalion fought in Kyiv Oblast, at the battles of Irpin, Bucha, Kyiv, and Brovary.
Following the successful repulsion of the Russian offensive on Kyiv by Ukrainian forces, the battalion again became an official part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on 19 May 2022. It was then sent to the eastern theatre of the war, where it fought on the Izium front. There, Kutsyn was killed by Russian forces on 19 June 2022. [4] [5] The battalion is now commanded by a 58-year old, formerly retired career soldier, who uses the code name Swat. [6]
During the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive, the battalion was on the forefront of the fighting at Izium and Lyman, both strategically important cities, to provide flanking support.[ citation needed ] On 10 September 2022, the battalion advanced from its positions in the village of Virnopillia towards Izium. In the village of Topolske , just south of Izium, units of the battalion captured members of Russia's 423rd Motor Rifle Regiment. [7]
On October 3, 2022, they seized an additional settlement to the east, secured a series of dams, and more settlements in northern Donetsk province.[ citation needed ]
As of 4 January 2023, the battalion was deployed on the Luhansk Oblast front, near the city of Kreminna. [8]
In April 2024, Captain Yevhen Skoryna of Karpatska Sich received the “Gold Star” and “Combat Merit Cross” from President Zelensky for participating in the defense of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. [9]
Bellingcat defined the Carpathian Sich as "neo-Nazi". The group was involved in the attacks against the KyivPride and urged its members to buy a copy of the manifesto of the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque shootings, encouraging them to "get inspired" by it. [10]
The text adopted by the European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2018 on the "Rise of neo-fascist violence in Europe", some Ukrainian far-right groups, including the Carpathian Sich, are condemned, for having "attacked Roma groups several times, as well as anti-fascist demonstrations, city council meetings, an event hosted by Amnesty International, art exhibitions, LGBTQI events, women’s rights and environmental activists". [11]
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