Crimean Battalion “Krym”

The Krim Battalion (Ukrainian: Батальйон “Крим”) is a volunteer military unit composed primarily of Crimean Tatars, created in 2014 in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. It is currently subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and is headquartered in Kherson.

Foundation

The Battalion was formed in June 2014, shortly after the outbreak of the civil war in Ukraine. Following an order from the then Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, who intended to create a group of 30 infantry battalions of internal troops, several hundred Tatars and Caucasians showed up for enlistment. Initially constituted as a Company, it was attached to the Ukrainian Special Police Forces (Dnipro – 1 Regiment). Command of the unit was taken by Nariman Narketovich Bilyalov (under the pseudonym of Isa Akayev), a Tatar engineer born in exile, during the forced deportation of the Tatars ordered by Stalin at the end of the Second World War, who had opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea, and had recruited the first nucleus of fighters from among his compatriots.

Insight – Reportage by Reuters (ENG)

Battle of Savur – Mohyla

The Krim Battalion’s Baptism of Fire was in July – August 2014, when the unit took part in the Battle of Savur – Mohyla. At that time, the Ukrainian National Guard was trying to close the Marynivka border crossing, through which the pro-Russian insurgents were constantly supplied by the Moscow army with war weapons, ammunition and provisions. The area had been taken in April by separatist militias, supported by the Russian army and air force, which prevented the Ukrainian air force from consolidating control of the skies and crushing the pro-Russian resistance.

The Krym unit was deployed on the Savur-Mohyla hill, which it defended throughout August as separatist forces, increasingly supported by the Russians, took control of the district. The company was reportedly surrounded on the hill, but managed to fight its way through and retreat in order to new positions.

The memorial on Savur – Mohyla in ruins, after the fighting of August 2014

Insight – Isa Akayev about the Battle of Savur – Mohyla (RUS)

Battle of Ilovaisk

In the following weeks, Russian paramilitary forces, mercenaries, and contract soldiers began to reinforce the separatist units, pushing the National Guard troops away from the Russian borders. Ukrainian units, which were deploying to attack cities under pro-Russian control, were subjected to strong pressure, the center of which was the town of Ilovaisk. The Krym Company reached the town between August 19 and 20, when the Kiev positions were already under encirclement.

On August 29, Ukrainian forces began to retreat from Ilovaisk, and Krym Company with them. The two retreating columns came under heavy Russian artillery bombardment, losing men and material. The fighters of “Crimea” moved in the column of the battalion “Dnipro-1”. In the area of the village of Chabany, near Starobesheve, they came under enemy fire, after which they managed to break out of the encirclement in small groups.

Becoming a Battalion

In November 2014, the armed corps was reorganized into a Battalion of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, having reached a strength of about 450 men. Mustafa Dzhemilev, a parliamentarian of Tatar origin and Presidential Commissioner for the Affairs of the Crimean Tatar People, stated:

It is not necessary that this military unit consist exclusively of Crimean Tatars, but it would be desirable that they were not scattered in different areas, so that they could communicate in their native language; the religious factor must be taken into account. … It is better that Crimean Tatars serve in the Kherson region. In addition to the proximity to Crimea, there are thousands of Crimean Tatars who have never returned there. … One way or another, Crimea will be liberated one day. Apparently, this connection will enter Crimea.

The Russo – Ukrainian War

A few months before the war began, the Krym Battalion was reorganized as a separate unit within the Main Intelligence Directorate and Akayev who had retired from the combat unit to pursue political activism, returned to command the “Krym”.

With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Krym Battalion was deployed first in Kiev where it fought to repel the Russian advance guards that had reached a few kilometers from the city, then Zaporizhia, Chersonesos (where it participated in the recapture of the city during the counteroffensive in the summer of 2022) and Bakhmut.

Insight – Talks about the formation of the Krim Battalion (RUS)

Insight – The creation of the Krim Battalion (RUS)

ESSENTIAL NOTES

Date of creation: June 2014, as a company within the Dnipro-1 special police battalion.

Formalization: November 2014, announced by President Petro Poroshenko and Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev.

Commander: Isa Akaiev (born Nariman Bilialov), activist and sergeant of the Ukrainian military intelligence.

Size: approximately 600 members.

Insight – “About 2000 Crimean Tatars Fight in the Ukrainian Army”

Affiliation: Initially part of the Dnipro-1 regiment; since 2022, integrated into the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.

Isa Akaev, commander of the Krym Battalion

Military Operations

The Krim Battalion has participated in several key operations:

Donbass War: Battles in Shakhtarsk, Ilovaisk and Debaltseve.

Russian invasion of 2022: Involvement in the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Bakhmut fronts.

Ideology and Objectives
The battalion is motivated by the will to resist the Russian occupation and recapture Crimea. Its members see the defense of Ukraine as an integral part of the Crimean Tatars’ struggle for self-determination.

The statement of the goals and ultimate goal of the struggle states:

We are not fighting for democracy, for any party or for the constitution of Ukraine, we have not taken an oath, we are not standing on the parade grounds singing the anthem or raising the flag. We do not wear crosses in the form of orders or epaulettes. We have no political goals or plans. We are simply defending ourselves, we simply want and hope for peace and security in this country, both for Muslims and for other residents. As soon as we realize that the situation has changed and our help will no longer be needed, we will leave. But if Ukraine liberates Crimea, we will also go, because Crimea was the cradle of Islam in Ukraine.

Insight – Isa Akayev about the ideology of the Krym Battalion (RUS)

Russian Repression
In June 2022, Russia’s Supreme Court designated the Krim Battalion as a “terrorist organization,” banning its activities. Since then, at least 50 Ukrainian citizens have been arrested for alleged participation in the battalion, including 31 in the occupied Kherson region.

Symbols and Communication
Emblem: two crossed sabers with the tamga, the national symbol of the Crimean Tatars.

Communication: through Telegram channels and social media, with updates on activities and calls for the liberation of Crimea.

LINKS

Facebook Page of the Battalion: https://www.facebook.com/sotnja.krym

Official Blog of the Battalion: https://battalionkrym.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJvT1BleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHgTtuBFGXn9GVhbKDuVFt1h1CX65itUnuE_5vU31ZvJgMkM32z1dTFn4lEgG_aem_XVZrPOODUYz30k9O2Nt6cA

Berlin info – point Krym: https://www.facebook.com/infopointkrim

Video about Isa Akayev (RUS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnv9lm_MCl8

NEWS

February 19, 2025 – Isa Akaye at TV Freedom (Video – RUS)

September 15, 2023 – Crimea’s liberation will put end to Russia (ENG)

August 3. 2023 – Isa Akayev: The truth about war (RUS)

May 20, 2023 – Interview with a Krym fighter (Video – RUS)