Timur Battalion

Timur Battalion was a volunteer unit of the Special Purpose Patrol Police of Ukraine. It was formed in the early stages of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in eastern Ukraine and the onset of armed conflict in Luhansk Oblast. The unit developed from the Luhansk People’s Self-Defense Headquarters, which was created in March 2014 by Ukrainian volunteers under the leadership of former serviceman Temur Yuldashev.

In April 2014, following the seizure of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) building in Luhansk by pro-Russian forces, the local police leadership authorized the creation of volunteer police units – the Stakhanov, Timur, and Luhansk companies.

Temur Yuldashev was appointed commander of the Timur unit. He repeatedly warned Ukrainian authorities about the deteriorating security situation in Luhansk and called for mass volunteer mobilization. By 24 April 2014, the unit was performing security tasks in Luhansk, including protection of administrative buildings, despite numbering only around 20 personnel. Around the same period, the unit was expanded and referred to as the Timur Battalion, although it remained understrength.

On 28 April 2014, approximately 25 volunteers from the unit traveled to Shchastia for training at a Ministry of Internal Affairs training center. Upon arrival, the group was blocked by pro-Russian protesters and attacked with firearms and cold weapons. Yuldashev offered himself as a hostage in exchange for the release of the volunteers, an offer that was accepted. The following day, pro-Russian forces consolidated control over administrative buildings in Luhansk, and Ukrainian authorities lost effective control of the city.

After these events, surviving members of the unit relocated to Dnipro, where they made contact with remnants of the Luhansk company. At that time, discussions took place regarding integration into the Dnipro-1 Battalion; however, internal disagreements led most members to return to the original unit. By early May 2014, the Luhansk company consisted of two members, while the Timur group numbered twelve. On 8 May 2014, the decision was made to form the Luhansk-1 Battalion.

Yuldashev was released in June 2014 and later joined the 42nd Territorial Defense Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was killed during the evacuation near Savur-Mohyla on August 24, 2014.