| Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Russian:Батальон имени Павла Судоплатова | |
.svg) Coat of arms of theRussian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast | |
| Active | September 2022 – Present |
| Country |  Russia |
| Allegiance | Russia |
| Type | Militia |
| Size | 600+ (claimed, January 2023)[1] |
| Part of | BARS-32 |
| Patron | Pavel Sudoplatov |
| Engagements | Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Dmytro Pogrebnyak |
| Notable commanders | Yevgeny Balitsky |
ThePavel Sudoplatov Battalion (Russian:Батальон имени Павла Судоплатова,romanized: Batal'on imeni Pavla Sudoplatova), sometimes known asBARS-32,[3] is a Russian volunteerbattalion inRussian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
As of 2024,Dmytro Pogrebnyak is the unit commander.[4]
The battalion was established in September 2022[5][6] and consists of pro-Russian Ukrainians[7] and foreign volunteers.[8] It is allied with the Russian-installed authorities in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and led byYevgeny Balitsky,[6] whose son is also a member of the battalion.[1]
It is named after Soviet intelligence officer andMelitopol nativePavel Sudoplatov, known for conducting the assassination ofUkrainian Nationalist leaderYevhen Konovalets as well as having involvement in theassassination of revolutionary and dissidentLeon Trotsky.[9]
The PSB was formally registered as the State Unitary Enterprise "Volunteer Battalion named after P.A. Sudoplatov" by theFederal Taxation Service.[10] Volunteers are paid 400,000 rubles or 5,000 US dollars.[10]
On 4 July 2023, the battalion was subordinated into theBARS-32 ceasing its existence as an independent unit.[11]
On 24 January 2024 at 3:00 AM, Ukrainian sources claimed that 24 members of the battalion were killed and 4 were wounded after a Ukrainian drone strike near the village ofPokrovka.[12] On 14 August 2024, the unit was investigated by theInvestigative Committee of Russia for embezzling resources in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.[4]
On 24 January 2025, the ISW assessed that the battalion, operating as part of BARS-32, is operating in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[13]
Foreigners who have been recruited to the PSB include nationals from Serbia,[14] Sweden,[citation needed] and Turkey.[15]
Since 2023, the battalion is attached to the58th Guards Combined Arms Army of theRussian Armed Forces.[4]
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