| Country: | Ukraine |
| Details of Formation: | The Crimean Cossacks formed as a group in 1992 but were active for the Crimean government during the conflict with Ukraine in 1994. The first evidence for the group being pro-government is from 2006. |
| Details of Termination: | The group is coded as terminated on the day Yanukovich lost power in 2014. The following government was not pro-Russian and anti-government actions by the Crimean Cossacks are reported. |
| Purpose: | The PGM is a pro-Russian vigilante group, which was intended to participate in the conflict in Crimea. Other tasks were police-related and included patrolling. The group was involved in raids, land disputes with Crimean Tartars and operated training camps. It was used by regional authorities to protect property. |
| Organisation: | Officially, the group is registered as a cultural NGO and had close ties to the Russian Cossacks. The PGM also cooperated with the police. |
| Weapons and Training: | The group had its own training camps and cooperated sessions with the Russian Cossacks in training sessions, however, there is no mention of a specific government link. The PGM was legally allowed to carry firearms. |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | Based on the group’s commitment to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate and a radical Christian orientation (as well as self-proclaimed defence against Muslims), there may have been religious reasons for joining. Hostile attitudes and action towards Crimean Tartars suggest that ethnic loyalties could also have been an incentive to become a member. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group generally exhibited hostile behaviour towards Crimean Tartars. There is a reported instance of the PGM seizing products from vendors. |
| Other Information: | Several Cossacks were elected as MPs in Crimea or local councillors in 2006. Crimean Cossacks are committed to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate. There were close ties to Russian Cossacks and some Cossacks became part of their troops. Members of the group also protested against NATO cooperation under Yanukovytch. |
| References: | Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD. |