| Separate Special Purpose Battalion | |
|---|---|
 chevron of the Separate Special Purpose Battalion | |
| Founded | July 2022 |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Allegiance |  Ministry of Defence (Ukraine) Chechen Republic of Ichkeria |
| Type | Spetsnaz |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Close-quarters combat Cold-weather warfare Counterinsurgency Direct action Drone warfare HUMINT Irregular warfare Mountain warfare Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Urban warfare |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of |  International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine |
| Nickname | OBON |
| Motto | Marşo ya joƶalla ("Freedom or Death") |
| Colors | UkraineChechen Republic of Ichkeria |
| Engagements | Battle of Donbas (2022)[1] 2022 Ukrainian southern counteroffensive Eastern Ukraine campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
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TheSeparate Special Purpose Battalion of the Ministry of Defense of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria,[2] (Russian: Отдельный батальон особого назначения Вооружённых сил Чеченской Республики Ичкерия (ОБОН ВС ЧРИ)) also known asOBON,[3] is a spetsnaz formation of Chechen volunteers, functioning as part of theInternational Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine. It is one of severalChechen armed volunteer formations on the side of Ukraine. It was created byAkhmed Zakayev on July 29, 2022, on the basis of a Chechen formation that has been fighting on the side of theUkrainian Armed Forces sinceRussia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to combat the purposes of their common enemy.
On July 29, 2022, at a meeting with the leaders of the Chechen volunteers in Kyiv,Akhmed Zakayev announced the creation of a new Chechen armed formation on the side of theArmed Forces of Ukraine.[4][5]
This formation was named OBON (Separate Special Purpose Battalion) and included in theInternational Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.[5] According toZakayev himself, as the battalion becomes bigger, it will be transformed into a "Separate Special Purpose Brigade" as part of the International Legion.[6][7]
The unit is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria abroad, headed byAkhmed Zakayev. It includes fighters from among the representatives of the Chechen nationality who serve in the Ukrainian army, as well as volunteers from theChechen diaspora in Europe and abroad.[5]
The officer of the Ukrainian army Khadzhi-Murat Zumsoevsky who served for several years in the ranks of theUkrainian Armed Forces was appointed as the commander of the battalion.[4] His deputy isKhavazhi Amaev [ru], a participant in thesecond Russian-Chechen war andSyrian civil war.[8]
In the beginning of August 2022, the battalion took part in the battles in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.[9] In August–September 2022, the battalion has taken part in theUkrainian counteroffensive of the southern regions.[10] On May 13, 2023, a member of the battalion Hussein Dzhambetov defected to the Russian side.[11] In September 2023, the unit is fighting on theVerbove-Novopokrovka front.[citation needed]
On September 26, 2024, the media outlet of the Chechen government in exile announced the formation of a new UAV unit to participate indrone warfare against the Russian Armed Forces, called “Stiglara Tajzar” (meaning “Heavenly Wrath” in Chechen).[12]
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