| Diesel Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Батальон «Дизель» | |
 | |
| Active | 2015–present |
| Country |  Donetsk People's Republic |
| Branch | DPR People's Militia (2015–2022) Russian Armed Forces (2022–present) |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of |  1st Donetsk Army Corps |
| Engagements | War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Petr Ruchyev |
The Diesel Battalion is a military unit of Russian Ground Forces. Until January 1, 2023, it was part of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR).
The battalion was formed in 2015. [1] The battalion took part in numerous battles of the War in Donbas such as the Battle in Shakhtarsk Raion and the Battle of Debaltseve. Two servicemen of the battalion, lieutenants Alferov N.N. and Nyrkov R.V. were awarded the title of Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic posthumously. [2]
On 6 June 2022, the commander of the battalion, Petr Ruchyev claimed that he was losing experienced men saying: "The enemy suffers heavy losses, but now mobilization is ongoing in Ukraine, combat effective military personnel die, and reservists immediately substitute for them. Of course, their combat effectiveness is debatable. They are captured daily. When our troops enter an enemy’s trench, the militants naturally surrender. They no longer stand their ground". He also claimed that commanders conceals the truth about what is happening in the Donbass to preserve the morale of their troops. [3] In January 2023, the battalion became attached to the 1st Donetsk Army Corps. [4]
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