Svitiaz

Svitiaz is a Ukrainian special-purpose police formation rather than a commercial consumer brand. It was created in Volyn in June 2014 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs during the early phase of the war in Donbas. Its initial mission combined law-enforcement duties with operations in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone, the Ukrainian government designation then used for the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The formation was organized with the involvement of Oleksandr Facevych and volunteer self-defense participants from Maidan Volyn. After approximately one month of training, the unit took its oath of allegiance on 12 July 2014. It entered the conflict zone in August 2014 and became involved in some of the most intense fighting of the year, including the Battle of Ilovaisk. Around 40 Svitiaz personnel were surrounded in Ilovaisk. The unit remained under sustained fire, suffered casualties, and later lost six personnel during the 29 August retreat through a humanitarian corridor after the column was ambushed. A company bus was destroyed by small-arms fire and an anti-tank guided missile. These events became central to the unit's public reputation and commemorative history. Following a period of rest and retraining, Svitiaz returned to combat in December 2014, operating in and around Vuhlehirsk during the Battle of Debaltseve. In January 2015, personnel and an artillery group were encircled in the town. The unit helped hold defensive positions, directed artillery fire, and ultimately broke out of the encirclement, withdrawing approximately 15 kilometers toward Artemivsk while also bringing out personnel from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Several officers and members received state or departmental distinctions connected with these actions. The unit underwent a leadership transition in July 2015, when its first commander, Oleksandr Facevych, moved to command the Kyiv Oblast special police forces. Svitiaz continued to operate as a Ukrainian special-purpose police formation and remained associated with service in the Donbas conflict. In March 2019, the company received a blessing from chaplains of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Volyn before deploying again to the conflict zone. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Svitiaz was among the Ukrainian formations that engaged Russian forces at the outset of the invasion. It subsequently became part of the Zakhid Battalion, which was later incorporated into the Liut Brigade of the Special Tasks Patrol Police. In April 2023, a Volyn company led by Svitiaz commander Oleg Bulatov undertook combat coordination before deployment. The formation remains an active Ukrainian frontline unit. Its identity is therefore rooted in public service, combat readiness, regional affiliation, and remembrance of personnel killed or wounded in action, rather than in commercial products or market positioning.

Svitiaz was established in Volyn on 12 June 2014 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in response to the need for specialized law-enforcement units able to serve in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone. Oleksandr Facevych and self-defense fighters associated with Maidan Volyn were involved in forming the company. Its role was defined by a combination of internal-security work and combat deployment in eastern Ukraine. The company completed an initial month of training and took its oath on 12 July 2014. In August it was sent to the conflict zone. During the Battle of Ilovaisk, approximately 40 personnel were surrounded. The company held positions under artillery fire for about a week. On 26 August, Volodymyr Ishchuk was killed and Svyatoslav Romaniuk was wounded. During the attempted withdrawal on 29 August through a humanitarian corridor, six additional Svitiaz personnel were killed when the retreating Ukrainian column was ambushed. The company's bus was struck by small-arms fire and an anti-tank guided missile and was destroyed. After recuperation and further training, Svitiaz deployed to Vuhlehirsk in December 2014. During the Battle of Debaltseve in January 2015, the company and its artillery group were encircled in the town. Its positions included a local boarding school and House of Culture. The commander personally directed artillery fire, after which the unit broke out and moved roughly 15 kilometers to Artemivsk. The unit also brought out comrades from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In February 2015, Facevych and deputy commander Hryhoriy Rubchuk received honorary firearms, while Makar Chayuk and Oleksandr Pinchuk received bravery distinctions. Thirty personnel were awarded service distinctions. On 28 July 2015, Facevych left to become commander of the Kyiv Oblast special police forces. Serhii Kozak succeeded him. The company continued its operational role, with Vyacheslav Monich later serving as commander. In March 2019, Svitiaz received a religious blessing from Orthodox Church of Ukraine chaplains in Volyn before another deployment to the conflict zone. Russia's full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022 changed the unit's wider organizational setting. Svitiaz was among the Ukrainian formations that first engaged Russian forces. It subsequently became part of the Zakhid Battalion and then the Liut Brigade, a formation of the Special Tasks Patrol Police subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 2023, Oleg Bulatov was identified as commander. A Volyn company under his leadership conducted combat coordination in April of that year. Svitiaz remains an active frontline formation based in Volyn, with its public history defined by combat service, casualties, unit continuity, and integration into Ukraine's wartime police-brigade structure.

• 2023

  Combat coordination under Oleg Bulatov

  [1]Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  A Volyn company led by the Svitiaz commander conducted combat coordination before further frontline service.

• 2022

  Integration into wartime brigade structure

  [1]Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  Following Russia's full-scale invasion, Svitiaz became part of the Zakhid Battalion and later the Liut Brigade.

• 2015

  Battle of Debaltseve

  [1]Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  The company fought around Vuhlehirsk, escaped encirclement, and received multiple service and bravery distinctions.

• 2014

  Company established in Volyn

  [1]Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the creation of Svitiaz for law-enforcement and Anti-Terrorist Operation duties.

• 2014

  Oath and operational formation

  [1]Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  After a month of training, the company swore allegiance to Ukraine and was formally presented as a combat-ready unit.

• 2014

  Battle of Ilovaisk

  [1]Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org

  Svitiaz personnel were encircled at Ilovaisk and suffered deaths and injuries during the fighting and subsequent ambush of the withdrawal corridor.

A regional Ukrainian special-purpose police and combat formation associated with frontline service, law enforcement, volunteer defense, and military operations.

• 2022

  Integration into the Zakhid Battalion and Liut BrigadeStrategy

  Background

  Russia's full-scale invasion required Ukrainian special-purpose police units to operate within larger combat formations.

  Action taken

  Svitiaz was incorporated into the Zakhid Battalion and subsequently into the Liut Brigade of the Special Tasks Patrol Police.

  Aftermath

  The unit continued frontline operations under the wartime brigade structure.

  Source

• 2014

  Creation of a specialized police combat companyStrategy

  Background

  The escalation of fighting in eastern Ukraine created a need for police formations capable of both law-enforcement operations and deployment to the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone.

  Action taken

  The Ministry of Internal Affairs established Svitiaz in Volyn and organized it with assistance from regional self-defense volunteers.

  Aftermath

  The company completed training, entered combat in August 2014, and became a recurring Ukrainian frontline formation.

  Source

1. 1Svitiaz Company (Ukraine)en.wikipedia.org