Russian separatist forces in Ukraine, primarily the People's Militias of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), were Russian and pro-Russian Ukrainian paramilitaries in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine under the overall control of the Russian Federation. They were also referred to as Russian proxy forces.
They were active during the war in Donbas (2014–2022), the first stage of the Russo-Ukrainian War. They then supported the Russian Armed Forces against the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the 2022 Russian invasion. In September 2022, Russia annexed the DPR and LPR, and began integrating the paramilitaries into its armed forces. They are designated as terrorist groups by the government of Ukraine.
The separatist paramilitaries were formed during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine. The Donbas People's Militia was formed in March 2014 by Pavel Gubarev, who proclaimed himself "People's Governor" of Donetsk Oblast, while the Army of the South-East was formed in Luhansk Oblast. The Donbas war began in April 2014 after these groups seized Ukrainian government buildings in the Donbas, leading the Ukrainian military to launch its Anti-Terrorist Operation against them.
During the Donbas war, Russian far-right groups were heavily involved in recruiting for the separatists, and many far-right activists joined them and formed volunteer units. The Russian separatists have been held responsible for war crimes, among them the shootdown of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and the Mariupol rocket attacks, which they have denied. The militias were also responsible for illegal abductions, detention, and torture of civilians of the Donbas.
The separatist paramilitaries were supported by, and were proxies of, the Russian Armed Forces.Ukraine conflict: Deadly flare-up on eastern front line, BBC News (18 February 2020) Ukraine, the United States, and some analysts deemed them to be under the command of Russia's 8th Combined Arms Army. Although the Russian government often denied direct involvement, evidence suggested otherwise. The separatists admitted receiving weaponry and supplies from Russia, being trained there, and having thousands of Russian citizens in their ranks.Around 3–4 thousand Russian volunteers fighting for Donetsk People's Republic militia . Information Telegraph Agency of Russia. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014. By September 2015, the separatist units, at the battalion level and up, were acting under the command of Russian Army officers. In 2023, Russia acknowledged separatists who fought in the Donbas war as being eligible to receive Russian combat veteran status.
Although called "militias", shortly before the 2022 Russian invasion, the separatist republics began forced conscription of men to fight for Russia. The Donbas conscripts have been described as the "cannon fodder" of the Russian forces; by November 2022 the casualty rate of the separatist units was almost 50%, according to official separatist sources.
History
On 3 March 2014, during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, groups of protesters took control of the regional administration building in Donetsk. An armed opposition group named the Donbas People's Militia, led by Pavel Gubarev, participated. This happened when 11 Ukrainian cities with significant populations of ethnic Russians erupted in demonstrations against the new Ukrainian government. On 6 April 2014, 2,000 pro-Russian protesters rallied outside the regional administration building. On the same day, groups of protesters in Eastern Ukraine stormed the regional administration building in Kharkiv, and the SBU headquarters in Luhansk. The groups created a people's council and demanded a referendum like the one held in Crimea.
Donbas war
On 12 April, armed members of the Donbas People's Militia seized government buildings in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and set up checkpoints and barricades.На одном из блокпостов около Славянска слышна стрельба и взрывы // "Первый канал" от 13 апреля 2014Жители Славянска поддержали «Народное ополчение Донбасса» // "Взгляд.RU" от 12 апреля 2014""Народное ополчение Донбасса" строит баррикады" Протесты в Славянске Донецкой области // &"ИТАР-ТАСС" от 13 апреля 2014 The same day, former members of the Donetsk "Berkut" unit joined the ranks of the Donbas People's Militia.«Это наши люди» // «Взгляд.RU» от 12 апреля 2014
On 13 April, the newly established Ukrainian government gave the separatists a deadline to disarm or face a "full-scale anti-terrorist campaign" in the region. Later that day, the first reports came in of fighting between the people's militia and Ukrainian troops near Sloviansk, with casualties on both sides. On 14 April, members of the Donbas People's Militia blocked Ukrainian military KrAZ trucks armed with Grad missiles from entering the city.Народное ополчение Донбасса задержало грузовики со снарядами для "Града" на въезде в Славянск // "Интерфакс" от 14 апреля 2014"Представители "Народного ополчения Донбасса" задержали грузовик со снарядами к реактивной системе залпового огня (РСЗО) "Град" на одном из блок-постов возле города Славянск Донецкой области. Об этом сообщили 13 апреля местные СМИ. Источники в силовых структурах признали факт задержания "грузовика с вооружением", отметив, что задержанный автомобиль КрАЗ принадлежит Национальной гвардии Украины"СМИ: манифестанты задержали возле Славянска грузовик со снарядами к РСЗО "Град" // ИТАР-ТАСС от 14 апреля 2014 On 15 April, a full scale "Anti-Terrorist Operation" was launched by the Ukrainian government with aim of restoring their authority over the areas seized by the militia.
On 16 April, the militia entered Sloviansk with six BMD airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicles"власти Украины признали, что шесть боевых машин десанта (БМД) у армии отобрали ополченцы"Колонна украинской бронетехники под Краматорском прорвала "блокаду" местных жителей, угрожая гранатой // NEWSRU.COM от 16 апреля 2014 they had obtained from elements of the 25th Airborne Brigade who had switched allegiance. A Ukrainian military column was disarmed after the vehicles were blockaded by locals in Kramatorsk. The militia also received a 2S9 "Nona-S" self-propelled 120 mm mortar."самоходная артиллерийская установка «Нона»... была добровольна отдана сопротивлению десантниками 25-й аэромобильной бригады из Днепропетровска в середине апреля"Как устроена десантная машина «Нона» – символ сопротивления Донецкой республики // "Московский комсомолец" от 13 мая 2014Самооборона Славянска обстреляла Нацгвардию из самоходной установки «Нона» // "Взгляд.RU" от 12 мая 2014 On April 20, an unidentified armed group in civilian clothes attacked a militia checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Sloviansk. Three attackers and three members of the militia were killed.Атака на блокпост в Славянске: шестеро погибших // DELFI.LV от 20 апреля 2014 On May 14, eight members of the militia seized an IMR armored vehicle from Novokramatorsky Mashinostroitelny Zavod. Вооруженные люди вывезли с Новокраматорского завода списанную инженерную машину разграждения // "Интерфакс – Украина" от 14 мая 2014
On May 15, the Donbas People's Militia sent an ultimatum to Kyiv. They demanded the withdrawal of all Ukrainian troops from Donetsk oblast. On May 17, several members of the militia seized two BRDM unarmed armored vehicles from Severodonetsk and Lysychansk (Luhansk Oblast)На Луганщине боевики похитили две БРДМ из пожарно-спасательных частей // УНИАН от 18 мая 2014 On May 22, the Federal State of Novorossiya was declared. On May 23, several members of the people's militia seized another BRDM-RKh unarmed armored vehicle from Loskutovka (Luhansk Oblast)Ополченцы захватили машину разведки на Луганщине // "iPress.UA" от 23 мая 2014
In July 2014, the estimated manpower of the separatists was around 10,000–20,000.Ukraine's next battle is Donetsk, but no bombs, please. USA Today. 12 July 2014.
The militia were widely suspected to have been involved in the downing of a civilian airliner, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, on 17 July 2014.^
On August 8, the militia claimed that after battles near the Russian border, they had captured 67 pieces of equipment in varying conditions (serviceable equipment lacking ammunition or fuel, with faults, damaged in battle and completely unusable), including 18 "Grad" multiple rocket launching systems, 15 tanks and armored personnel carriers, howitzers, MANPADS, etc.ДНР заявляет о захвате около 70 единиц военной техники силовиков |DPR claimed capturing about 70 pieces of military equipment // RIA Novosti, 8 August 2014 As of August 12, the militia had at least 200 armored vehicles.Для контрнаступления под Донецком ополченцы подготовили 200 бронемашин| For a counter-offensive near Donetsk militia prepared 200 armored vehicles// Vesti.ru, 12 August 2014
July and early August were disastrous for the militias, with many analysts saying they were on the verge of defeat, before a sudden counteroffensive, which the Ukrainian government said was supported by Russian troops, encircled thousands of Ukrainian troops and forced them into a retreat. The militias soon re-captured several strategic positions such as Savur-Mohyla and Luhansk International Airport.
In September 2014, the DNR and LNR People's Militias became the 1st Army Corps and 2nd Army Corps of the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya (; acronym NAF), which was to be the army of the proposed Novorossiya (New Russia) political union. Lieutenant General Ivan Korsun became its commander-in-chief. The Novorossiya project was suspended in May 2015 due to infighting, but the two separatist armies would still operate in an unified manner.
On 2 February 2015, Head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, announced that there would be a general mobilization in the DPR of 10,000 volunteers, and he aimed to eventually expand the NAF to 100,000 soldiers.
In March 2015, the estimated manpower of the separatists rose to 30,000–35,000 personnel.
On 20 May 2015 the leadership of the Federal State of Novorossiya announced the termination of the confederation 'project' but the United Armed Forces was retained as the joint armed service of the DPR and LPR.Euan MacDonald: Divide and re-conquer?, Kyiv Post (11 June 2016)
The Ukrainian government in mid-2015 claimed there were about 42,500 fighters on the separatists' side, which include 9,000 Russian soldiers.
2022 Russian invasion
During the prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic started a process of mass mobilization of its population in order to build an army for the Russian invasion. As there weren't enough volunteers in the separatist army, and the Russian government wasn't willing to start mobilization of its own population, men from ages 18 until 65 from any background were conscripted to form the separatist army. Groups of DPR/LPR officers roamed the streets searching for men at the age range, arresting and sending to conscription offices any they found. In some regions, up to 80% of employees of local enterprises were called up, which led to the shutdown of mines (the main source of employment in the Donbas) and public transport, resulting in the paralysis of city and public services.
Most of the Donbas conscripts are unexperienced, received little-to-no training and were badly equipped, and suffered from morale issues and heavy casualties. The role of Donbas conscripts by Russian forces has been described as "cannon fodder". There were reports of conscipts being issued antiquated equipment such as World War I-era Mosin–Nagant rifles and the early Cold War-era T-62 tanks. By November, the DPR ombudsman reported that the DPR militia suffered almost 20,000 casualties (both wounded in action and killed in action), translating into a staggering 50% casualty rate, with outside observers believing it could possibly be higher.