# Special Police Forces (Ukraine)

The Special Police Forces (Ukrainian: Спеціальні поліцейські сили, romanized: Spetsialni politseiski syly) is a Ukrainian volunteer corps of law enforcement units, part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. It was originally created for prevention of criminal encroachment and defence of civil order on 15 April 2014, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the ongoing war in Donbas, the forces of the Special Tasks Patrol Police have fought against pro-Russian separatists as a paramilitary force.

## History

In April 2014, Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov issued an order to create battalions of special purpose within the Ministry of Internal Affairs structure. Their goal was to protect public order and important facilities across Ukraine, but all of these units were eventually sent to the east to counter Russian aggression. After the reformation of National Police in 2015, the units were reformed as Special Task Patrol Police units.

## Structure
### Special Police Forces

* Chernihiv Battalion, Chernihiv Oblast
* East Company, Kharkiv, Kharkiv Oblast
* Kherson Battalion, Kherson, Kherson Oblast
* Khyzhak Brigade
* KORD Brigade
* Kyiv Regiment, Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast
** 1st Police Company Kyiv-1
** 2nd Police Company Kyiv-2
** 3rd Police Company Zoloti Vorota
** 4th Police Company Sich
* Lviv Battalion, Lviv, Lviv Oblast
* Lyut Brigade, Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast
** Tsunami Assault Regiment
*** Tavr Battalion
** Safari Assault Regiment
** Luhansk Assault Regiment
** Myrotvorets Battalion
*** Kyivschyna Company
*** Tornado Company
*** Harpoon Company
** Enei Police Battalion
*** Sviatoslav Company
** Skif Battalion
** Zakhid Battalion
*** Svityaz Company
*** Bohdan Company
** Dnipro-1 Regiment
*** Kryvbas Company
*** Donetsk-1 Company
*** Krym Company
** Shtorm Battalion
** Ivano-Frankivsk Company
* Poltava Battalion, Poltava, Poltava Oblast
** Kremenchuk Company
* Sumy Company, Sumy, Sumy Oblast
* Ternopil Battalion, Ternopil, Ternopil Oblast
* Vinnytsya Battalion, Vinnytsia Oblast

### Former special police units

* Azov Battalion (батальйон "Азов") – a volunteer battalion which became notable for its participation on the Battle of Mariupol and controversial as it was formed by members coming from ultranationalist and neonazi parties. In September 2014, it was expanded into a regiment and transferred to the command of the National Guard of Ukraine.
* Shakhtarsk Battalion (батальйон ПСМОП "Шахтарськ") – A former all volunteer territorial defence battalion of mostly former convicts from Donbas established in Shakhtarsk in June 2014 (because the battalion is reporting to the Interior Ministry its members became formally police officers). In October 2014 the unit was disbanded after 50 members of the battalion were accused of looting and hooliganism. The battalion was then resurrected as the "Tornado" police battalion.
* Tornado battalion – After the "Shakhtarsk" police battalion was disbanded in October 2014 after 50 members of the battalion were accused of looting and hooliganism. it was resurrected as the "Tornado" police battalion. The battalion was about 100 people strong and most members were former convicts from Donbas (because the battalion is reporting to the Interior Ministry its members were formally police officers). On 18 June 2015 the unit was disbanded after members were accused of looting, rape and torture. Initially the battalion refused to stop operations and disarm. Former battalion members were accused and arrested for smuggling cast iron from territory under separatist control.

## Gallery

| Members of the "Sich" Battalion in a formation. | Volunteers of the special police "Azov" Battalion |