Kyiv-2

Kyiv-2 is a Ukrainian special-police formation associated with the Kyiv Regiment of the Special Police Forces of the National Police of Ukraine. It was established in 2014 amid the outbreak of the war in Donbas and was initially organized as the Kyiv-2 Battalion. The unit was formed largely from participants in the Maidan Self-Defense movement, including veterans of the Soviet–Afghan War, activists associated with S14 and the Svoboda party, and volunteers from Kyiv Oblast and eastern Ukraine. Its early composition reflected the emergency mobilization of volunteer and activist networks into Ukraine’s security structures after 2014. The unit was deployed to the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone in eastern Ukraine and took part in operations around Debaltseve, Sloviansk, Chornukhyne, and Volnovakha. During its operations around Sloviansk, the battalion reported destroying four separatist reconnaissance and sabotage groups. In Chornukhyne, its personnel conducted a raid on 18 August 2014 against a building occupied by separatists. Because civilians were present, the unit reportedly avoided using grenades; a Kyiv-2 soldier, Serhii Anatoliyovych Podgornyi, was killed during the engagement. The unit later withdrew from Chornukhyne after approximately three weeks. A public dispute followed when Donetsk regional governor Hennadiy Moskal alleged that it had abandoned its positions without authorization. Battalion commander Bohdan Voytsekhovsky rejected that characterization, describing the movement as planned and stating that the unit returned to its base for reorganization and to receive heavier weapons. Anton Gerashchenko supported the account that the withdrawal had been planned. In Volnovakha, Kyiv-2 performed security duties connected with the 26 October 2014 elections to the Verkhovna Rada. In one reported incident, its personnel worked with local police to locate and release the head of district election commission No. 60, who had been abducted, and detained two alleged kidnappers. On 16 November 2014, the battalion and the Security Service of Ukraine conducted a joint operation near Volnovakha that uncovered a separatist group and resulted in three captures. At formation, Kyiv-2 was equipped primarily with light small arms. During September and October 2014, it received heavier equipment, including large-caliber machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and disposable anti-tank grenade launchers. Equipment identified in reporting included DShK and Degtyaryov machine guns manufactured during the Soviet period. The unit’s personnel received official recognition in late 2014: on 24 October, members were presented with service-bravery badges, commendations, and service firearms, while 70 personnel received special police ranks. On 19 December, two soldiers received the Order for Courage, third degree. The formation is described in the reference material as having subsequently been reorganized or redesignated as the Second Company of the Special-Purpose Kyiv Regiment. It is a public-security and military-police organization rather than a commercial consumer brand; brand-style fields in this dossier are therefore used only to represent the unit’s institutional identity.

Kyiv-2 emerged in 2014 during Ukraine’s rapid expansion of volunteer and special-police formations following the Maidan movement and the beginning of armed conflict in Donbas. It was initially organized as the Kyiv-2 Battalion and drew personnel from Maidan Self-Defense groups, Soviet–Afghan War veterans, political and civic activists, and volunteers from Kyiv Oblast and eastern Ukraine. The unit was subsequently associated with the Kyiv Regiment of the Special Police Forces and is described in the reference material under the later designation Second Company of the Special-Purpose Kyiv Regiment. Its first combat deployments included the Debaltseve area and subsequent operations around Sloviansk and Chornukhyne. The unit reported destroying four separatist reconnaissance and sabotage groups near Sloviansk. On 18 August 2014, it raided a building in Chornukhyne where separatists were believed to be present. Civilians were also inside, so the unit reportedly avoided grenade use. Serhii Anatoliyovych Podgornyi, a Kyiv-2 soldier, was killed during the operation. After spending roughly three weeks in Chornukhyne, the unit moved back toward its base. The movement prompted criticism from Hennadiy Moskal, who alleged an unauthorized withdrawal. Battalion commander Bohdan Voytsekhovsky disputed that claim, saying the move followed a plan and allowed the unit to reorganize and obtain heavier weapons. Anton Gerashchenko likewise characterized the withdrawal as planned. Kyiv-2 later operated around Volnovakha, where it provided security during Ukraine’s 26 October 2014 parliamentary elections. Its personnel worked alongside local police in a case involving the abduction of the head of district election commission No. 60. The official was located and released, and two alleged kidnappers were detained. On 16 November, Kyiv-2 participated with the Security Service of Ukraine in an operation near Volnovakha that resulted in the capture of three members of a suspected separatist group. The battalion initially had only light small arms. In September and October 2014, it received large-caliber machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and disposable anti-tank grenade launchers. Reported examples included DShK and Degtyaryov machine guns dating from the Soviet manufacturing period. Its personnel were publicly recognized on 24 October 2014 with badges for bravery in service, commendations, and service firearms; 70 policemen received special ranks. On 19 December, two soldiers were awarded the Order for Courage, third degree. The available material does not provide a complete account of the unit’s later operational history, command succession, or current organizational structure.

• 2014

  Formation as the Kyiv-2 Battalion

  [1]Kyiv-2 Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  A volunteer-origin special-police battalion was established during the opening phase of the Donbas war.

• 2014

  Deployment to eastern Ukraine

  [1]Kyiv-2 Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  The unit began combat and security operations in areas including Debaltseve, Sloviansk, Chornukhyne, and Volnovakha.

• 2014

  Heavy weapons issued

  [1]Kyiv-2 Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  The battalion expanded beyond its initial light-arms inventory with machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and disposable anti-tank launchers.

• 2014

  Personnel recognized for service

  [1]Kyiv-2 Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  Members received bravery badges and commendations, 70 personnel received special ranks, and two soldiers later received third-degree Orders for Courage.

A volunteer-origin Ukrainian special-police unit integrated into the state security structure and associated with combat operations and public-security duties in eastern Ukraine.

• 2014Donbas Anti-Terrorist Operation

  Ukraine

  Kyiv-2 conducted combat, counter-sabotage, and security operations in eastern Ukraine, including activity around Debaltseve, Sloviansk, Chornukhyne, and Volnovakha.

  Outcome. The unit remained operational, received heavier weapons, and supported later security and joint law-enforcement actions.

  Source

• 2014

  Planned withdrawal and reorganization from ChornukhyneStrategy

  Background

  The battalion left Chornukhyne after approximately three weeks amid active fighting and public claims that it had abandoned its positions without authorization.

  Action taken

  The commander stated that the unit returned to base according to plan to reorganize and receive heavier weapons; the account was supported by Anton Gerashchenko.

  Aftermath

  The public dispute remained part of reporting about the battalion’s 2014 operations, while the unit continued operating in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone.

  Source

1. 1Kyiv-2 Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org