Tavr Battalion (Ukraine)

Tavr Battalion
Ukrainian: Батальйон міліції особливого призначення «Тавр»
Tavr Battalion Insignia
Active	2014 -
Country	Ukraine
Branch	Ministry of Internal Affairs
Type	Special Tasks Patrol Police
Part of	Tsunami Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Mykolaiv
Patron	Saint Nicholas
Engagements	Russo-Ukrainian war 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine War in Donbass Battle of Lutuhyne Russian invasion of Ukraine Southern Ukraine campaign Battle of Mykolaiv Eastern Ukraine campaign Battle of Chasiv Yar
Commanders
Ceremonial chief	Oleksandr Melsykovich Mkhitaryan
Notable commanders	Mykhailo Moshchanets
Insignia
Former Insignia
Former Insignia
Field Insignia

Tavr Battalion formerly the Svyatyi Mykolai Battalion (translated: Saint Nicholas Battalion), also known as Mykolaiv Battalion, is a battalion of the Tsunami Regiment of the Liut Brigade of the Special Tasks Patrol Police subordinated to Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. It was established in 2014 and has, since then seen regular combat on the frontlines in addition to special counter-crime operations. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

History

The formation was established on 5 May 2014 in Mykolaiv during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, which led to separatist movements in southern and eastern regions of Ukraine. ^{[4] [5]} Volunteers for the Battalion had to be aged 18 to 50 years. ^[6] In May 2014, ^[7] its task was to man roadblocks on the outskirts of Mykolaiv. ^[8] On 11 July 2014, ^[9] they began operating in Luhansk Oblast during the war in Donbass. ^{[2] [7]} The unit updates its equipment through a charity foundation, ^[10] obtaining a Kamaz truck. ^[11] and bulletproof vests. ^[3] Their main task in the ATO zone included the neutralization of separatist reconnaissance and sabotage units. ^[12] On 16 August 2014, 49 soldiers of the special battalion returned to Mykolaiv from the ATO zone. ^[13] On 1 September 2014, the battalion left Lutuhyne following its capture by separatists. On 16 September 2014, a detachment of battalion again went to the ATO zone. ^[14]

On 2 January 2016, the ex-commander of the disbanded Mykolaiv PPS battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Mykhailo Moshchanets became the battalion's commander. ^[15] It was again deployed to the ATO zone for law enforcement and maintenance of public order, replacing the personnel who were stationed there for a long time. ^[16] On 4 September 2016, joint infantry patrol units were established in Mykolaiv encompassing personnel of the Battalion to take part in operations against increasing crime rates in the city. On 29 July 2017, the battalion was again deployed to the ATO zone to take part in operations against illegal weapons and drugs, separatists and their collaborators. ^[17]

External videos
1.  Батальон МВД Украины «Николаев».
2.  «Святой Николай» в зоне АТО.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the battalion took part in the Battle of Mykolaiv, during which on 26 February 2022, two personnel of the battalion (Yury Volodymyrovych Kravchenko and Yaroslav Mykolayovych Lukyanenko) were killed in action. ^[18] On 5 May 2022, the battalion was reformed into the Tavr Battalion which in 2023, became the fourth battalion as part of the Tsunami Regiment of the Liut Brigade. ^{[19] [20] [21]} On 31 March 2023, Major Volodymyr Voloshyn, of the Tavr Battalion died as a result of vehicle accident, while on duty. ^[22] In the liberated Kherson Oblast, the personnel of the Tavr Battalion came under attack by Russian forces by artillery, killing a soldier of the battalion (Yury Khyzhinsky) and wounding four others. ^[23] In June 2024, the Battalion took part in the Battle of Chasiv Yar. Despite the Russian shelling and numerous assaults, the battalion held its positions preventing a Russian capture. ^[24]

See also

• List of special law enforcement units

References

1. "In Nikolaev create the armed battalion of territorial self-defense for situation deduction in the region". NEWS.PN. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
2. "Бойцы спецбатальона "Николаев" на Луганщине отбили атаку террористов – один спецназовец ранен". NEWS.PN. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
3. "Agrosv_t firm and "not indifferent people" gave bullet-proof vests to the specialbattalion "Saint Nikolay"". NEWS.PN. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
4. "The Nikolaev Battalion of territorial defense asks nikolayevets about the help". NEWS.PN. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
5. "Бронежилеты для солдат из Харькова покупают родители". Вести. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
6. "У Миколаєві почали формувати батальйон територіальної оборони" . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
7. Ukraine crisis timeline, BBC News
8. "Миколаїв від сепаратистів охороняє новий батальйон спецпризначення "Святий Миколай"". ТСН.ua. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
9. "Батальйон "Миколаїв" вирушив у зону АТО". UkrMedia. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
10. "Николаевские волонтеры показали "Народный бронированный «КамАЗ", который отправят на передовую в АТО". NEWS.PN. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
11. "Спецбатальону "Николаев" в зону АТО передадут еще один бронированный "КамАЗ"". NEWS.PN. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
12. Бойцы спецбатальона «Святой Николай» в зоне АТО уже успели задержать и передать СБУ несколько групп террористов Archived 27 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
13. ""Святий Миколай" повернувся із зони АТО". Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
14. «Преданность делу служения Украине», — спецназ из «Святого Николая» отправился в зону АТО Archived 20 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
15. "Батальйон спецпризначення очолив екс — командир розформованого миколаївського батальйону ППС підполковник Михайло Мощанець". Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
16. "Із зони проведення антитерористичної операції повернулись поліцейські роти "Миколаїв" (ФОТОРЕПОРТАЖ, ВІДЕО)". Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
17. "Спецпризначенці "Святого Миколая" поїхали в АТО". 29 July 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
18. "Про відзначення державними нагородами України". 10 March 2022.
19. Миколаївські поліцейські відвідали дітей спецпризначенців, які загинули під час оборони міста від російського вторгнення
20. [https:// petition.president.gov.ua/petition/211700 Штурмовий батальйон «Тавр»]
21. Tavr Battalion
22. "У Миколаєві поліцейський батальону "Тавр" загинув у ДТП". СВІДОК.info (in Russian). 1 April 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
23. Kokhanchuk, Alyona (20 January 2023). "На Херсонщині росіяни обстріляли автомобіль миколаївських бійців батальйону "ТАВР": один з них загинув". Никвести (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 18 September 2023.
24. Бійці батальйону «Тавр» продовжують обороняти Часів Яр