You're reading: Partisans’ arrest divides opinion on role of unofficial fighters

The May arrests of pro-Ukrainian partisans on charges of possessing illegal firearms and committing armed robbery has stirred serious debate. Many see such units as lawless and dangerous, and should be brought under control. Others, including many politicians, believe that their service to the country during a time when the military has been chronically weak is critical to success in Russia's war against Ukraine.


On May 8, police arrested three members of the Ravlyk brigade in the village of Yevhenivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Vyacheslav Abroskin, the local Interior Ministry head, wrote on his Facebook page that the suspects were caught on Ukrainian-controlled territory with eight Kalashnikov rifles, five rocket-propelled grenades, two pistols and about 2,000 rounds of ammunition and five kilograms of explosives. The charges could lead to a sentence of 12 years behind bars, although the men have since been released on bail. The next court date has not been set yet.

Their supporters quickly rallied to their defense.

A Free Ravlyk movement was formed which included 10 members of Parliament. They said that the arrested Ravlyk members – Bohdan Chaban, Oleksandr Kriukov and Borys Ovcharov – have been betrayed, despite having fought for Ukraine against Russian-backed separatist forces.

Lawmaker Semen Semenchenko, affiliated with the volunteer Donbas Battalion, is among the 10 members of Parliament who signed a petition to release the pro-Ukrainian fighters. Semenchenko commented on his personal experience of fighting alongside Bohdan Chaban before adding that he“is tired of all the mud, which is constantly pouring on the heads of volunteer soldiers.”

Hipster on the battlefield

Before the Russia-instigated war, Chaban was the owner of the Izba-Chitalnya café in Donetsk. Viktoria Fedotova, also part of the “Free Ravlyk” movement, said the partisans were previously volunteer soldiers.

Chaban joined the Shahktarsk Battalion in September.

“After the battle of Ilovaisk, in order for his presence at the front to be officially recognized, he moved to the Ivano-Frankivsk Battalion of the Interior Ministry” said Fedotova, referring to the August massacre at Ilovaisk, one of the most decisive defeats for Ukrainian military.

However,the battalion was left to operate in the peaceful western Ukrainian region, and Chaban went to the front by himself seeking active service.

Under the microscope

Ilya Kiva, the deputy chief of the Interior Ministry of Mariupol, stood up for the squad, arguing that their detention happened after they informed him that they had discovered an armory on the territory of a farm. Kiva advised the group to record photo evidence of the find and call the official authorities.

“In 40 minutes they called me again. All the calls are in my phone, it is easy to check,” Kiva added.

His superior, Abroskin, maintains a less favorable assessment, saying,“the streets are not the law and the war doesn’t hide all crimes.”