| Country: | Ukraine |
| Details of Formation: | When it was formed, the volunteer battalion, which initially formed in the wake of the conflict, was loosely integrated into security structures to recapture areas taken over by separatists. |
| Details of Termination: | The official dissolution of the PGM was March 2, 2015 (although initially there were plans to complete this by the end of 2014) and it was subsequently reorganized as the 24th Separate Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian Army. This action was taken by the government to stop the illegal behaviour of some members. |
| Purpose: | The government created the group to take back control over areas captured by separatists and to defend the country. It also protected strategically important sites and suppressed protests and unrest to maintain public order. |
| Organisation: | The group was only loosely integrated into the security apparatus and not effectively controlled by the government. The commander was Serhiy Melnychuk. |
| Weapons and Training: | -- |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | -- |
| Treatment of Civilians: | Amnesty International reported that the group committed various war crimes and abuses such as abductions, unlawful detention, torture, ill-treatment, beatings, robbery, extortions and potentially executions. The PGM also blocked the distribution of aid to the population in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, a large part of which was heavily dependent on food aid. Members were not held accountable or effectively controlled by the Ukrainian government. |
| Other Information: | The group was linked to the Defence Ministry. It had also ties to the Radical Party and the far-right. According to reports, the PGM was a significant force in the efforts of the Ukrainian Army to retake separatist areas. A number of Russians also fought in the battalion. An alternative spelling is “Aydar battalion”. The date formed is the date first mentioned. |
| References: |
Amnesty International. 2014a. “Amnesty International Briefing: Ukraine: Abuses and war crimes by the Aidar Volunteer Battalion in the north Luhansk region.” 8 September 2014. AI Index: EUR 50/040/2014. Amnesty International. 2014b. “Eastern Ukraine: Humanitarian disaster looms as food aid blocked. “ 24 December 2014. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/12/eastern-ukraine-humanitarian-disaster-looms-food-aid-blocked/ Amnesty International. 2014c. “Ukraine: Mounting evidence of war crimes and Russian involvement”. 7 September 2014. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/09/ukraine-mounting-evidence-war-crimes-and-russian-involvement/ Amnesty International. 2014d. “Ukraine must stop ongoing abuses and war crimes by pro-Ukrainian volunteer forces” 8 September 2014. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/09/ukraine-must-stop-ongoing-abuses-and-war-crimes-pro-ukrainian-volunteer-forces/ Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD. Wikipedia. “Aidar battalion.” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aidar_Battalion&oldid=823217038 |