Private armies, popular in 2015–2016, may reappear in Ukraine.
Local authorities have suddenly begun forming so-called territorial defense brigades. They're announcing recruitment drives, asking for assistance, and already conducting exercises. However, security officials say this could lead to the widespread emergence of private armies, which were popular in 2015–2016. NEWS.
Recruiting for defense
Since talk in Ukraine of an escalation of the conflict in the east and a possible large-scale offensive by Russian troops began, authorities in various cities have stepped up efforts to create and train territorial defense brigades. For example, Kyiv authorities announced the formation of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade, which, together with city administration units, is to "ensure the defense of the capital, protect the population, and secure strategically important facilities in the event of military aggression."
The Kyiv City State Administration told Vesti that nothing unscheduled was happening, saying it was a technical announcement. However, 300 contracts for service in the brigade have already been drawn up, and since the beginning of the year, regular training sessions have been held for reservists, with 100 people participating each week. And the Kyiv mayor himself Vitaliy Klichko He and his subordinates participated in similar exercises, where he drove a tank and hid in a trench over which armored vehicles drove.
Kyiv is not alone in its impulse. A few days ago, the mayor of Lviv Andrey Sadovy He appealed to the US Chargé d'Affaires in Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, for assistance in organizing the city's territorial defense. Meanwhile, in the Kherson region, unscheduled local territorial defense exercises had just concluded, involving 300 reservists practicing marksmanship, tactical, military engineering, and medical training.
Meanwhile, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ruslan Khomchak, addressed state and local government bodies asking them "not to stir up panic in society by creating volunteer units due to the escalation of the situation with the Russian Federation."
"I would like to point out that we should not shift the focus by creating paramilitary groups not defined by law. After all, such uncoordinated activity could be speculatively exploited by the Russian propaganda machine," Khomchak said in his statement.
Still outlawed
Indeed, territorial defense brigades are currently illegal. A bill on them was registered in the Verkhovna Rada last December, but is still pending committee review. The document calls for the separation of territorial defense troops from the Ukrainian Armed Forces into a separate military unit and the creation of a new type of service—territorial military service.
In fact, some armed formations under local government control have existed since 2014. Back then, people's militias were hastily assembled and sent to the front, later reformed into motorized infantry. And in 2018, territorial defense brigades began to form in the regions, conducting training exercises and recruiting contract soldiers. And with specific perks.
Thus, on the administration websites they write: “Service in the Troops is an opportunity to legally own a personal weapon, it replaces compulsory military service, and in the event of martial law, it takes place in your city (district).”
However, according to Kyiv resident Sergei Mochanov, they don't actually accept anyone without having completed their military service. "Motivated 19-year-olds came to our battalion, but they were turned away, saying, 'First, you serve your military service, and then you can go wherever you want,'" he tells Vesti. He explains that during training exercises, they have to practice tasks just like at the front. "Essentially, it's like a second army, the same armed forces. But it turns out the Troops have no legal status, which is a bit disconcerting, because we remember how similar stories ended," Sergei tells us.
"This is the path to the formation of a PMC"
Security expert Serhiy Shabovta says there's a threat of Troitskyist formations merging with private military companies. "This threat has potentially existed in Ukraine since 2014. We see what the Municipal Guard has become, for example, in Kyiv and Lviv. I remember how this idea was pushed, how radical forces flocked to it. And we're already seeing prototypes of unitary militaristic associations that are unconstitutional. But local leaders pretend everything is normal and continue to use the Varta to achieve their goals. And any radicalization of armed formations is a real threat," Shabovta told Vesti.
According to him, an example of such an army is Semyon Semenchenko's formation. "The SBU knew about him, but turned a blind eye. And the very idea of a PMC using people with combat experience gained in the east hasn't disappeared. And there are many people willing to unite around it to make money, including among government officials. I know this from various sources," Shabovta noted.
However, according to former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Romanenko, no one will allow the creation of armies like Semenchenko's now. "During a war, no one will allow anyone to create private armies. This topic was discussed earlier, and there was even a project for it, but it was not supported," Igor Romanenko told Vesti.
"Ukraine already has enough military structures."
According to Romanenko, the local authorities' concerns are understandable. "After all, Putin has deployed troops capable of starting a local war—from the north, the east, and Crimea. Therefore, we need to be prepared to avoid a resurgence like in 2014, when the Russians sent their GRU and FSB agents by train, and for the time being, they didn't receive adequate resistance on the ground. To prevent this from happening again, the authorities need to be prepared," Romanenko said.
At the same time, he believes Ukraine already has sufficient military structures. "Ruslan Khomchak says we have enough legitimate state structures that could fulfill citizens' desire to participate in the defense of their country. These include conscription, signing a contract for service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and reservist contracts. You can also serve in the National Guard or the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where volunteer battalions have been integrated and continue to serve," Romanenko says.
However, according to Shabovta, the importance of territorial defense shouldn't be overestimated. "After all, there's no clear legislative regulation of such formations in Ukraine. Without it, everything looks like another government travesty and a deliberate attempt to whip up hysteria," Shabovta asserted.
Truth Factory: How and Why Ukraine Is Creating an Anti-Fake News Center
Subscribe to our channels in Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, VC — Only new faces from the section CRYPT!