The Special Rifles Alcatraz Battalion is a

penal battalion A penal military unit, also known as a penal formation, disciplinary unit, or just penal unit (usually named for their formation and size, such as ''penal battalion'' for battalions, ''penal regiment'' for regiments, ''penal company'' for companie ...

currently operating as part of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" on the eastern front of the

Russo-Ukrainian war The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 and is ongoing. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia Russian occupation of Crimea, occupied and Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, annexed Crimea from Ukraine. It then ...

. Fighting in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Chasiv Yar areas of the Donetsk regions under Commander Validol, the battalion consists of prison inmates who have volunteered to serve militarily, prematurely ending their sentences. Selection for recruits began in July 2024, by August the battalion was engaging in missions. Since December 2024, Canadian volunteer April Huggett has been serving as a combat medic and PR officer for the Alcatraz Battalion.

References

Battalions of Ukraine Penal military units Military units and formations of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Military units and formations established in 2024 2024 establishments in Ukraine {{Ukraine-mil-unit-stub