Dnipro Battalion

, image = Eмблема полку спеціального призначення «Дніпро-1».png
, image_size = 200
, caption = Dnipro-1 Regiment shoulder sleeve insignia
, dates = 2014–present
, country =
, allegiance =
, branch = Patrol Police
, type = Police tactical unit
, role =
, size =
, command_structure =
, garrison =
, march =
, mascot =
, battles = Russo-Ukrainian War
* Battle of Ilovaisk
*Second Battle of Lyman
, decorations =

The "Dnipro-1" Regiment ( uk, Полк «Дніпро-1») is a Special Tasks Patrol Police regiment subordinated to Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The regiment is based in Dnipro.

History

The unit was first established as "Dnipro-1" Special Tasks Patrol Police Battalion in April 2014 on a voluntary basis as the response to 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine. Its assignments include duties at multiple checkpoints in the south-eastern part of Ukraine.The Town Determined to Stop Putin
''The Daily Beast'' (12 June 2014) The unit claims to have hired Romanian and Georgian military advisers to help with the training of troops. Before June 2014 this training was often just one week. It first operated outside Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in May 2014.Ukraine's Secret Weapon: Feisty Oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky
''The Wall Street Journal'' (June 27, 2014)

The militia unit, nicknamed Kolomoyskyi's battalion, was funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and also through the charitable organization "Fund Dnipro-1". Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi (who was Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine) is believed to have spent $10 million to create the unit.

Commander of the unit Yuriy Bereza is since the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election for the People's Front; he was placed 10th on the party's election list.Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament
, Ukrainian Television and Radio (8 November 2014)
People's Front 0.33% ahead of Poroshenko Bloc with all ballots counted in Ukraine elections - CEC
, Interfax-Ukraine (8 November 2014)
Poroshenko Bloc to get 132 seats in parliament - CEC
Interfax-Ukraine (8 November 2014) Member of the unit Volodymyr Parasyuk was also elected into parliament during these elections by winning the electoral district of Yavoriv with 56.56% of the votes.Candidates and winner for the seat in constituency 122 in the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election
, RBK Ukraine
Volodymyr Parasyuk very short bio
, RBK Ukraine
Video of first brawl in Verkhovna Rada becomes a YouTube hit
''Kyiv Post'' (5 December 2014)

The unit was involved in the liberation of Lyman during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Human rights violations and war crimes

* Reports (2016) published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented a worrying case of punitive damage to property in Donetsk by members of the armed groups targeting the house of a member of the Government-affiliated 'Dnipro-1' battalion."; On 20 January, a group of ‘Dnipro-1’ battalion members raided a house in Avdiivka, severely beating a man, subjecting him to asphyxiation with a plastic bag and mock execution."
* From the reports (2016) by Global Rights Compliance LLP: "For example, has documented specific allegations of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment by the members of volunteer battalions such as " Aydar", "Dnipro-1", " Kyiv-1" and " Kyiv-2"; "The Volodymyr Kulmatytsky case gives rise to similar questions concerning the absence of war crimes charges. The accused persons in this case were charged with illegal confinement (Article 146(2)) and illegally handling arms (Article 263(1)). It is alleged that Mr Kulmatytsky, former deputy mayor of Sloviansk, was kidnapped by three soldiers and one commander (Mr. A) of the Battalion Dnipro-1 (Ukrainian police) and murdered later that day by Mr. A. Mr. A was informed that Mr. Kulmatytsky was involved in financing DPR formations".
* On 24 December 2014, Amnesty International reported that the unit was blocking humanitarian aid sent from Ukraine by another Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov reaching the population in the separatist-controlled areas; over half the population in these areas depend on food aid. The reason the aid was being blocked by the Dnipro, Aidar and Donbas battalions is that the battalions "believe food and clothing are ending up in the wrong hands and may be sold instead of being given as humanitarian aid."Amnesty International
, "Eastern Ukraine: Humanitarian disaster looms as food aid blocked", Amnesty International 24 December 2014. Denis Krivosheev, acting Director of Europe and Central Asia for Amnesty International, stated that "Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime".

References

External links

Volunteer detachments fighting in Donbas

{{War in Donbas

History of Donetsk Oblast
History of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Special tasks patrol police of Ukraine
Military units and formations established in 2014
2014 establishments in Ukraine