Imam Shamil Dagestan Battalion (Ukraine) Explained

The Imam Shamil Dagestan Volunteer Battalion is a volunteer combat unit operating under the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a part of the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine against the Russian forces. It mainly consists of volunteers from Dagestan which seek an independent Dagestan from Russian rule. It was established in October 2022 and is named after the national hero of Dagestan, Imam Shamil.

History

The battalion was officially established in the beginning of October 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a part of the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine. It was created by the public-political organization "Dagestan National Center", which consists of members of the Dagestan diaspora in Ukraine, it's stated goal is to help Ukraine win the war against Russia and liberate Dagestan from Russian rule.^{[1] [2]} The association "For a free Caucasus", an affiliate of the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum is also related to the battalion's creation.^{[3] [4] [5]}

The battalion is mainly composed of Dagestanis who previously fought as part of various formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Dagestani soldiers from the Krym Battalion and volunteers, which were united into a single Dagestani battalion^[6] under the command of Muhammad Saipulaev.^[7]

The battalion along with Morning Dagestan and Adat People's Movement acted as the initiators and coordinators of the 2022 North Caucasian protests.^{[8] [9]}

"We started the fight against Russia long before that, 10-15 years ago. In Ukraine, they decided to continue, because what has affected us for 100 years has now affected [Ukraine]"^[10]

Following the conclusion of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the battalion aims to work for the "liberation" of an independent Dagestan from Russian "imperialism".^[10]

In December 2022, according the battalion was fighting in the Donetsk Oblast along with the "Brotherhood" battalion^[11]

In March 2023, the battalion also saw combat during the Battle of Bakhmut along with other volunteer formations.^[12]

Commanders

• Saipulaev Muhammad Ibrahimovich (2022-)^{[13] [14]}

Sources

• Батальон имени имама Шамиля выступит в войне на стороне Украины
• В Украине создан батальон дагестанцев имени Имама Шамиля
• За Украину приехали воевать граждане Дагестана

Notes and References

1. Web site: ru. "Цена за независимость – разрыв с империей". Западные эксперты о будущем России. RFE/RL. 2022-11-05. 2022-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105033700/https://www.kavkazr.com/a/tsena-za-nezavisimostj-razryv-s-imperiey-zapadnye-eksperty-o-buduschem-rossii/32108702.html.
2. Web site: ru. Антивоенный протест в Калмыкии, побег от домашнего насилия в Дагестане и "колдовство" в Чечне. RFE/RL. 2022-11-05. 2022-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105085432/https://www.kavkazr.com/a/antivoennyy-protest-v-kalmykii-pobeg-ot-domashnego-nasiliya-v-dagestane-i-koldovstvo-v-chechne/32107798.html.
3. Web site: ru. Выходцы из Дагестана формируют новое подразделение для войны c Россией. Morning Caucasus. 2022-07-25. 2022-10-16. 2022-10-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20221016112548/https://utrokavkaz.info/2022/07/25/vyhodtsy-iz-dagestana-formiruyut-novoe-podrazdelenie-dlya-vojny-c-rossiej/.
4. Web site: ru. Джабраил Мирзоев. Выступление на Конференции Кавказского Союза о освобождении и будущем Дагестана. media office "Free Caucasus". 2022-10-30. 2022-10-30. 2022-10-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20221030174144/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRrqiLBwXpI.
5. Web site: ru. Обращение Дагестанского Национального Центра к жителям Дагестана. Dagestan National Center. 2022-09-25. 2022-11-01. 2022-11-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20221101152240/https://t.me/Dagestan_N_C/3.
6. Web site: ru. В Украине создан дагестанский батальон. fakty.ua. 2022-10-29. 2022-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105194014/https://fakty.ua/ru/409910-v-ukraine-sozdan-dagestanskij-batalon.
7. Web site: ru-RU. При помощи мобилизации Путин истребляет нацменьшинства — как спастись. UATV. 2022-10-01. 2022-10-15. 2022-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20221015153232/https://uatv.ua/pri-pomoshhi-mobilizatsii-putin-istreblyaet-natsmenshinstva-kak-spastis/.
8. Web site: Акция в Махачкале завершилась после жестких задержаний протестующих . 2022-09-26 . Кавказский Узел.
9. Web site: 2022-09-26 . В ОП считают, что акции протеста против мобилизации в Дагестане координировал Киев . 2022-09-26 . РАПСИ . ru.
10. Web site: ru. Дагестанский батальон имени имама Шамиля выступит в войне на стороне Украины. Kavkazr. 2022-10-29. 2022-10-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20221029102832/https://www.kavkazr.com/a/dagestanskiy-bataljon-imeni-imama-shamilya-vystupit-v-voyne-na-storone-ukrainy-/32106693.html.
11. Web site: ru. Победа Дагестана близко! Корчинский и Джабраил Мирзоев о оккупация Дагестана россией и освобождении. Dmytro Korchynskyi. 13 December 202. 2022-12-21.
12. Web site: Дагестанцы в обороне Бахмута: интервью с замкомандира батальона. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. 2023-03-15. 2023-11-22. ru.
13. Web site: ru-RU. Дагестанский батальон имени имама Шамиля выступит в войне на стороне Украины. Marsho. Chechenews. 2022-10-30. 2022-11-05. 2022-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105085031/https://chechenews.com/дагестанский-батальон-имени-имама-ша/.
14. Web site: ru. Антивоенный протест в Калмыкии, побег от домашнего насилия в Дагестане и "колдовство" в Чечне. RFE/RL. 2022-11-06. 2022-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105085437/https://www.kavkazr.com/a/antivoennyy-protest-v-kalmykii-pobeg-ot-domashnego-nasiliya-v-dagestane-i-koldovstvo-v-chechne/32107798.html.