Separate Special Purpose Battalion (OBON)

Analytical Profile

Attribute	Details
Name	Separate Special Purpose Battalion (OBON)
Founded	July 29, 2022
Affiliation	Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (government-in-exile)
Military Alignment	International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine
Commander	Col. Hadji-Murat Zumso
Deputy Commander	Khavazhi Amaev
Notable Figures	Rustam Azhiev (Abdul-Hakim al-Shishani), Muslim Sadaev
Operational Areas	Donetsk, Kherson, Belgorod Oblast (Russia), classified locations
Specializations	Covert operations, sabotage, intelligence gathering, urban combat
Motto	“Marşo ya joƶalla” (“Freedom or Death”)
Symbolism	Flag of Ichkeria; uses national insignia of Ichkerian Armed Forces
Media Channel	Telegram: https://t.me/dvr_chri
Status	Active

Overview

The Separate Special Purpose Battalion (OBON) is a Chechen volunteer military unit operating under the command of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria’s government-in-exile, led by Akhmed Zakayev. Officially formed on July 29, 2022, OBON functions as the formal armed wing of the Ichkerian government and is part of Ukraine’s International Legion of Territorial Defense.

Composed of experienced fighters from the First and Second Chechen Wars, as well as members of the diaspora and recent volunteers, OBON symbolizes the continuation of Ichkerian resistance against Russian imperialism—this time on Ukrainian soil.

Formation and Strategic Purpose

OBON was created in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to formalize the military participation of Ichkerian forces and to embody the alliance between the exiled Chechen leadership and the Ukrainian state. Its formation followed a series of Chechen volunteer initiatives already active in Ukraine, including the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion, the Sheikh Mansur Battalion, the Khamzat Gelayev Detachment, and the informal “Mad Pack”.

Unlike previous formations, OBON is directly subordinated to the Ichkerian Ministry of Defense in exile, operating under a defined military structure and national command.

Command Structure

OBON is hierarchically organized and staffed by battle-hardened veterans, including:

Colonel Hadji-Murat Zumso – OBON Commander, ethnic Chechen and former Ukrainian military officer.
Khavazhi Amaev – Deputy Commander, with previous experience in the Second Chechen War and the Syrian Civil War.
Rustam Azhiev (aka Abdul-Hakim al-Shishani) – Commander of a special detachment within OBON, formerly head of the Chechen contingent in Syria.
Muslim Sadaev – Company-level commander.
Additional tactical elements and field commanders are known to operate with a high level of autonomy in covert missions.

The unit’s military doctrine emphasizes sabotage, reconnaissance, and special operations behind enemy lines, mirroring guerrilla warfare tactics developed in the North Caucasus.

Colonel Hadji-Murat Zumso (center) with two OBON comrades

Operations and Battle Engagements

2022 Campaign

Donetsk Region: OBON’s first deployment included combat in the industrial zones of eastern Ukraine, where its experience in urban warfare was immediately utilized.
Southern Counteroffensive: OBON participated in Ukraine’s August–September 2022 offensive, contributing to operations that led to the liberation of Kherson.

2023–2024 Developments

Covert Operations in Belgorod Oblast (March 2024): OBON claimed responsibility for cross-border sabotage missions inside Russia, temporarily raising the flag of Ichkeria over government buildings. These actions were intended to symbolize the Chechen resistance’s offensive reach and inspire discontent within Russia.

Political and Symbolic Importance

OBON is not only a military unit, but also a political signal of renewed Ichkerian sovereignty claims. Its creation coincided with the Ukrainian Parliament’s symbolic recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as a temporarily occupied state (October 2022).

For many OBON fighters, Ukraine’s battle is seen as the frontline of a shared struggle: a fight for freedom from Russian domination that spans nations from the Caucasus to Eastern Europe.

Their motto, “Marşo ya joƶalla” (“Freedom or Death”), echoes the traditional slogan of the Ichkerian Armed Forces.

OBON fighters. In the center, wearing a beret, Shamil Zakayev, son of Akhmed Zakayev

Legal and Institutional Challenges

Despite their front-line contributions, OBON volunteers—like members of other Chechen formations—face challenges:

Legal uncertainty regarding residency, citizenship, or military status.
Risk of extradition or persecution in European states aligned with Russian legal requests.
Limited official recognition or integration into the Ukrainian armed forces.

Efforts by Ichkerian leadership in exile and Ukrainian civil society continue to advocate for institutional protections.

Media and Communications

OBON maintains a minimal and security-conscious public presence, reflecting both operational prudence and its unofficial status in many countries.

Official Channels

Telegram (Primary): t.me/dvr_chri – This is the central communication platform for the battalion, used to post news, statements, and media from the front lines.

At present, OBON does not operate verified accounts on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter/X. Information is selectively disseminated to avoid jeopardizing mission integrity.

Relationship with Other Ichkerian Units

While OBON operates independently, it maintains ideological and informal links with other Ichkerian formations in Ukraine. Fighters have occasionally transferred between units, and some joint missions have been coordinated between OBON and the Sheikh Mansur Battalion or Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion in regions like Bakhmut and Svatove.

International Response

The Chechenpress news agency, aligned with the Ichkerian government-in-exile, has provided sustained coverage of OBON’s formation and operations. It portrays the battalion as a core component of Ichkeria’s armed diplomatic revival, and as proof that the fight for independence is alive despite exile.