Donbas Battalion

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2nd Battalion of Special Assignment "Donbas"
2-й батальйон спеціального призначення НГУ «Донбас»
Donbas Battalion emblem
Founded	2014 (2014)
Country	Ukraine
Branch	National Guard of Ukraine
Size	900[1]
Garrison/HQ	Severodonetsk (Until the Battle of Sievierodonetsk (2022))
Nickname(s)	"Men in Black", "Little Black Men"
Engagements	War in Donbas Liberation of Velyka Novosilka Battle of Ilovaisk Battle of Debaltseve Shyrokyne standoff 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Eastern Ukraine offensive Battle of Volnovakha Battle of Marinka Battle of Pisky Battle of Siversk
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant colonel Oleksandr Polishchuk
Notable commanders	Semen Semenchenko[2]
Insignia
Battalion flag

The 2nd Battalion of Special Assignment "Donbas" (Ukrainian: 2-й батальйон спеціального призначення НГУ «Донбас», romanized: 2-i batalion spetsialnoho pryznachennia NHU "Donbas") is a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and based in Severodonetsk. Originally created in 2014 as a volunteer unit called the Donbas Battalion (Ukrainian: Батальйон Донбас, romanized: Batalion Donbas) by Semen Semenchenko following the Russian occupation of Crimea and possible invasion of continental Ukraine. The formation of the unit started in the spring of 2014 during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine.^[2][3][4] The unit was initially formed as an independent force, but has been since fully integrated into the National Guard as the 2nd Special Purpose Battalion "Donbas" within the 15th Regiment of the National Guard.^[5]

The Donbas Battalion was initially formed by Russian-speaking Ukrainians from the Donbas who opposed the separatist movement.^[6] They are one of the most notable volunteer battalions, recognized as a highly effective combat unit during the war in Donbas,^[7] and also by the constant use of balaclavas, not only to hide their identities from pro-Russian sympathizers, but also to create a sense of mystery and fear around them.^[7] Their use of balaclavas and occasionally of black fatigues led to them begin nicknamed as the "Men in Black" or "Little Black Men", as a Ukrainian analogue of the Russian "Little Green Men".^[7][8][9]

In October 2016, a veteran of the former volunteer battalion Anatoliy Vynohrodskyi announced their intent to revive a volunteer battalion outside of the National Guard.^[10] The creation of the new volunteer battalion was never realized. Instead, in January 2017, Vynohradskyi became one of the leaders of the trade blockade with the Russian occupied territories in the Ukrainian East.^[11]