Wikipedia

East Company (Ukraine)

The East Company also known as Skhid Company or Scythian Company and formerly known as the Eastern Corps Company is an elite "rapid response" unit of the Special Police Forces and is subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. It is tasked with a variety of special operations and is also tasked with repelling separatist attempts in Kharkiv Oblast. It was established in 2014 in Kharkiv. It's military wing has seen heavy combat throughout the War in Donbass and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also has a public wing which performs a variety of tasks.

East Company
Ukrainian: Компанія Схід
East Company Insignia
Active2014–present
Country Ukraine
Allegiance Ministry of Internal Affairs
BranchSpecial Tasks Patrol Police
TypePolice tactical unit
RoleElite Force for Special Operations
Size100
Garrison/HQKharkiv
Nickname(s)Scythians
Orientals
Black hundred of Kharkiv
Motto(s)"It is better to be than to give up!"
"Slaves are not allowed to heaven!"
EngagementsRusso-Ukrainian War
Commanders
Current
commander		Serhii Bohdanovskyi
Notable
commanders		Oleg Viktorovych Shiryaev
Insignia
Former Insignia

History

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It was established in February–March 2014 as the public movement "Eastern Corps" in response to the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine following the Euromaidan, founded by Oleg Shiryaev, Igor Martynenko and Anatoliy Sydorenko to oppose separatism in Kharkiv Oblast drawing Force mainly from "Patriot of Ukraine" and FC Metalist Kharkiv fans.[1][2] They participated in the fight against drugs in Kharkiv and on 10 August 2014, it's personnel conducted a raid on a drug sales point in Kharkiv, seizing narcotic substances and destroying them.[3] On 6 October 2014, members of the "Eastern Corps" found a BTR-80 with an installed machine gun at the communal road maintenance enterprise No. 6 of Kharkiv with a large number of separatist symbols, and according to the commander of the "Eastern Corps" Oleg Shiryaev,[4] on the second floor of the enterprise they found a separatist armed installation, which was promptly seized.[5][6][7] In November 2014, it became an official company of the Special Tasks Patrol Police by the order of Arsen Avakov.[8] In January 2015, the soldiers of the company left for the ATO zone.[9][10] On 10 February 2015, the company took part in the Shyrokyne standoff engaging in direct combat with DPR separatists and captured a separatist artillery coordinator.[11] Several soldiers of the company were wounded in the standoff.[12] At the same time, some of the company's personnel continued to perform the functions of protecting public order and administrative buildings in Kharkiv.[13] On 27 April 2015, another 30 new soldiers joined the company[14] including both male and female personnel.[15] On 30 June 2015 the "Eastern Corps" company again went to ATO zone and held positions on the line of contact with the enemy near Hranitne repulsing multiple attacks of separatist sabotage and reconnaissance groups[11] who attacked the company's positions using small arms, automatic grenade launchers and mortars as well as 120 mm artillery.[12] As of the beginning of September 2015, the company's personnel numbered more than 100.[16] The "Eastern Corps" company became the Rapid response company "East" in May 2018 under the command of Serhii Tamarin.[17][18] Throughout 2018 and 2019, it saw deployment in the ATO zone, firstly in Komyshuvakha and Vrubivka during May–June 2018 and from them on in Mariupol.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it saw combat operations in Kharkiv Oblast. On 27 February 2022, they defended the police building in Kharkiv during the Battle of Kharkiv.[19] It also operated its own medevac service and evacuated wounded and disabled from the combat zone of Kharkiv Oblast.[20] Three soldiers of the company (Maksym Serhiyevich Volyk, Oleksandr Klushin and Tarusin Bohdan) were killed in combat on 2 March 2022.[21][22] On 16 March 2023, during the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, they attacked Russian forces in Mala Rohan.[18] On 17 March 2022, they destroyed MTLBs and ATGM positions were destroyed and a large number of Russians were killed.[18] Another soldier of the company (Dmytro Kupriyanov) was killed in action on 18 March 2022.[21] Following the liberation of Mala Rohan and Vilkhivka, the company saw further engagements during the Eastern Ukraine campaign.[18]

Public activities

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At the beginning of autumn 2014, several hundred people were members of the organization, including reserve personnel, professional soldiers and hand-to-hand combat instructors[23] and a training base for Ukrainian partisan units was created by "Eastern Corps" in case of Russian "aggression" in Kharkiv Oblast.[24][25]

On 23 August 2014 members of the "Eastern Corps" erected a monument for Ivan Sirko[26] near the Mirror Stream.[27]

 
Ivan Sirko monument erected by "Eastern Corps"

Various sports events were held in Kharkiv under the auspices of the "Eastern Corps" . On 20 December 2014, the "Eastern Corps" knife fight cup took place which gathered around 100 participants. Tactics and hand-to-hand combat training for civilian self-defense was also held.[28]

The "Eastern Corps" repeatedly visited orphanages, where they handed over aid collected by the organization and volunteers.[29]

It also trained Kharkiv residents in the operation of small arms, machine guns, and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.[30] On 28 June 2015, the "Eastern Corps" held the "Strong Nation" competition which included obstacle course, knife fight, and hand-to-hand combat.[31] "Eastern Corps" also provided combat training to women.[32]

 
Soldiers of the Company who won the 2019 applied shooting competition

It won the championship of applied shooting of the Main Directorate of the National Police in 2018 and 2019 as well as the cross-country athletics championship of the Main Directorate of the National Police in 2019.[33]

Equipment

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Type Image Origin Class Notes
Small Arms
AKM     Soviet Union Assault Rifle
AK-74     Soviet Union Assault Rifle
AKS-74U     Soviet Union Carbine
IMI Galatz     Israel Sniper rifle Produced in Ukraine under the license as Fort-301
IWI Tavor     Israel Assault Rifle Produced in Ukraine under the license as Fort-221
Fort-224   Ukraine Submachine gun
Fort-14     Ukraine Pistol
PM     Soviet Union Pistol
APS     Soviet Union Pistol
Heavy weaponry
RPK-74     Soviet Union Machine gun
PKM     Soviet Union Machine gun
DShK     Soviet Union Machine gun
RPG-7     Soviet Union Rocket launcher
AGS-17     Soviet Union Automatic grenade launcher
Vehicles
BTR-80     Soviet Union APC Captured from separatists in Kharkiv in 2014.[5]
BTR-60     Soviet Union APC Donated by Azov Brigade.[34][35]
Hyundai Galloper     South Korea SUV 12 vehicles donated by volunteers.[36]
Mitsubishi L200     Japan Pickup truck
VW Transporter     Germany LCV

Symbolics

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Scythian theme of the Company

Arsen Avakov, in 2015 gave the company a nickname of "Black Hundred in Kharkiv".[37] The "East" company has an exclusively Scythian theme. Its current insignia, on addition to the ancient Scythian helmet also shows a traditional Scythian weapon pair, Acinaces and Sagaris.[38] This eastern approach is also reflected in the fact that the personnel of the company are referred to as "Orientals".[39]

Commanders

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  • Oleg Viktorovych Shiryaev (2014–2015)
  • Anatoly Oleksandrovich Sidorenko (2015)
  • Ihor Volodymyrovych Martynenko (2015–2017)
  • Serhiy Tamarin (2017–2019)
  • Dmytro Balabanov (2019–2020)
  • Serhiy Bohdanovskyi (2020-)

References

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  1. ^ "Россия ввела войска в Крым под видом учений - Турчинов". korrespondent.net. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  2. ^ Чи є у росіян сили забрати Харків? Сергій Богдановський «Лід»
  3. ^ "Штурм наркоточек. - "Я просто пришел в гости!"". YouTube. 8 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Ширяев Олег". www.facebook.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  5. ^ a b "Активисты в ответ на заявление о неработающем бронетранспортере: Может, нам нужно поменяться местами с прокуратурой, милицией и СБУ?". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  6. ^ "В Харькове нашли сепаратистский БТР - активисты". Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  7. ^ "В Харькове в помещениях коммунального предприятия нашли БТР и пророссийскую символику". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  8. ^ "МВС набирає добровольців спецпідрозділу з охорони порядку на південному сході". Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Бійці "Східного Корпусу" міліції Харківщини відбули до зони АТО для виконання бойових завдань (ФОТО)". old.npu.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  10. ^ "В Харькове проводили в зону АТО бойцов "Восточного батальона". Фоторепортаж". Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  11. ^ a b БІЙЦІ «СХІДНОГО КОРПУСУ» ВИКОНУЮТЬ ЗАВДАННЯ НА ТЕРИТОРІЇ ДОНЕЦЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ (ФОТО)
  12. ^ a b "Под Гранитным бойцы АТО остановили прорыв оккупантов". 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  13. ^ Бойцы батальона «Східний корпус» берегут покой харьковчан Archived 13 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine"
  14. ^ "У спецбатальйон МВС "Східний корпус" влилася нова кров". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  15. ^ На Донбас у складі батальйону МВС поїде дівчина-новобранка Archived 15 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine"
  16. ^ "Харьковский батальон спецназа МВД "Восточный корпус" провел учебные стрельбы. Фоторепортаж". Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  17. ^ "Рота особливого призначення "Схід"". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  18. ^ a b c d Сергій Богдановський, командир роти швидкого реагування «Схід» полку поліції особливого призначення ГУ НП в Харківській області
  19. ^ "ДРГ штурмувала будівлю Нацполіції в Харкові, а керівники НП та ХОВА були під завалами". YouTube (in Ukrainian). 30 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  20. ^ "TacSquirrels - медична служба (@tac_squirrels) • Світлини та відео в Instagram". www.instagram.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  21. ^ a b Facebook Рота поліції Схід
  22. ^ Ryazantseva, Alyona (11 March 2022). ""Він був воїном": у Харкові попрощалися з Олександром Клушиним". National Public Television and Radio Company of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Сторінка 2. У Харкові почалися тренування партизан-добровольців - "Надзвичайні новини": оперативна кримінальна хроніка, ДТП, вбивства". kriminal.ictv.ua. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  24. ^ "Защита тыла. В Харькове сформировали первые добровольческие отряды партизан - Новости Харькова и Харьковской области. МГ "Объектив"". www.objectiv.tv. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  25. ^ "У Харкові на повну силу тренуються партизанські загони | Харківські Вісті". www.visti.tv. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  26. ^ "В Харькове открыли памятник атаману Сирку | АТН". 23 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  27. ^ "Памятник атаману Ивану Сирко появился в Харькове - Новости Харькова и Харьковской области. МГ "Объектив"". objectiv.tv. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  28. ^ "Кубок Східного корпусу зі спортивного ножового бою". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
  29. ^ ""Азов" зі "Східним Корпусом" відвідали дитячий центр "Радість"". YouTube. June 2015.
  30. ^ "Тренування Східного Корпусу". YouTube. 8 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016.
  31. ^ "В Харькове провели спортивный турнир полка "Азов" (видео)". Главное™. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  32. ^ "Чем агрессивней, тем лучше : как Східний корпус учил харьковчанок самообороне". Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  33. ^ Спецпідрозділ МВС «Схід» (офіційна сторінка в соцмережі «фейсбук»)
  34. ^ ""Азов" подарил "Східному корпусу" БТР (видео)". Главное™. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  35. ^ "Билецкий передал "Східному корпусу" первый БТР "Азова"". Главное™. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  36. ^ ""Східний корпус" отримав 12 джипів від волонтерів (ФОТО)". uapress.info. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  37. ^ "Аваков: Моя черная сотня в Харькове "любому сепару уши оторвет"". 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  38. ^ ""Орієнтир" презентуватиме книги "скіфського циклу" українцям Лондона (Микола Кравченко)". Censor.net. 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  39. ^ [1]
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