Special Battalions Vostok and Zapad

Infobox Military Unit


caption=
unit_name=Special Battalion "Vostok"
dates= 2003-present
country= flagicon|Russia Russia
branch= (direct subordination)
type=Spetsnaz
role=Special operations in mountain-forest lands
size=
garrison=Eastern Chechnya
battles=Infobox Military Unit


caption=
unit_name=Special Battalion "Zapad"
dates= 2003-present
country= flagicon|Russia Russia
branch= (direct subordination)
type=Spetsnaz
role=Special operations in mountain-forest lands
size=
garrison=Western Chechnya
battles=

Special Battalions "Vostok" and "Zapad" ( _ru. Специальные батальоны "Восток" и "Запад", lit. "East" and "West") are units of the GRU based in Chechnya. The overwhelming majority of personnel are ethnic Chechens, while the command personnel are mixed (Russian/Chechen).

They were raised in 2003, initially as special companies of commandant's offices (established on the territory of the Chechen Republic in 2002). The Chechen personnel are of diverse origins. "Zapad" servicemen were always loyal to Russia, while many in "Vostok" are ex-militants who fought against Russian troops in the First and/or the Second Chechen War, handed over their weapons, were amnestied and subsequently swore allegiance to Russia.

These battalions are the only ethnic Chechen battalions in the structure of the Russian Ministry of Defence or Ministry of Internal Affairs, and are outside any control of the leaders of Chechen Republic.

The units are directly subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Defence and the GRU. Operationally, however, they are included in the structure of the 42nd Motor Rifle Division ("Chechnya").

In 2008 they were involved in the Russian Peacekeeping operation in South Ossetia. Sulim Yamadayev, controversial former Chechen rebel, reportedly commanded the Vostok Battalion in this conflict. [ru icon [http://lenta.ru/news/2008/08/12/sulim/ Сулима Ямадаева видели в окрестностях Цхинвали] , Lenta.Ru, 12.08.2008] As Memorial reported, Yamadayev's detachement suffered heavy losses in Georgia. [ru icon [http://kavkaz-uzel.ru/newstext/news/id/1227002.htm Батальон "Восток" из Чечни несет потери в Южной Осетии] , Memorial, 11/8/2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/caucas1/msg/2005/07/m45406.htm 45th '"Запад" есть "Запад", "Восток" есть "Восток"] , Memorial, 29.07.2005