Since the beginning of Russian full scale war against Ukraine, Russian propaganda has regularly tried to persuade that captured Ukrainian soldiers moved to fight on the side of Russia. It is a classical trick of propaganda: Russians would like Ukrainians to kill each other for the benefit of Moscow. In 2022, Russian propagandists launched a myth about participation of a separate battalion recruited from Ukrainian military captives in the Russian invasion into Ukraine. This myth did not come true.
On the other hand, a number of deserters from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and former Ukrainian policemen-traitors did join Russian occupation troops to fight Ukraine. The Center for Journalistic Investigations identified collaborators, presented by Russian propagandists as soldiers of so-called «battalion named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky», Russian propagandist project.
In September 2022, Russian propagandists broadcast a video with Ukrainian military captives asking representative of Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk region and collaborator Volodymyr Bidyovka to accept them into so-called «Cossack voluntary battalion named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky». It was reported that this battalion has been under formation. Propagandists emphasized that a group of civilians, shown on video, were Ukrainian captured soldiers, detained in Olenivka prison on the territory of occupied Donetsk oblast.
The video was broadcast two months after horrible war crime of Russia in Olenivka prison. The barrack with Ukrainian captives was exploded. Fifty defenders of Mariupol and «Azovstal» were killed and 140 were wounded, as minimum.
We think that Russian propagandists launched a wave of news about creation of Russian battalion from Ukrainian captives in Olenivka prison with a purpose «to soften» the topic of Russian war crime. Russian mass media as well as Ukrainian and foreign media presented the news about «battalion» as breaking news.
Ukrainian military captives voluntary ask to join «battalion named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky». Photo: RIA Novosti
Later, in two months, Russian information agency TASS reported that battalion from Ukrainian captives has been already created in so-called «Donetsk People’s Republic». However, its name did not contain word «Cossack» whereas reported number of personnel – 50 soldiers – did not correspond to the level of battalion.
«Guys are ready to fight at the frontline», as persuaded TASS undisclosed representative of the unit. Russian propagandists kept silence about it for next three months and then renewed their efforts to promote it.
«Commander of battalion» Tyschenko
On February 23, TASS reported that around 200 Ukrainian captured soldiers were ready to join «battalion named after Khmelnytsky». Russian information agency «Novosti» broadcast an interview with Andrii Tyschenko whom propagandists called «a commander» of unit within «battalion named after Khmelnytsky». They did not clarify the destiny of «guys from battalion» who were ready to fight three months earlier.
«Creation of battalion is the stage of receiving Russian citizenship and Russian passports, signing contracts and going to the training camp for further training and retraining», as told «commander of battalion» Tyschenko, still wearing the uniform of a captive.
Andrii Tyschenko, presented by Russian propagandists as Ukrainian military captive and one of commanders of Russian battalion
Mariupol inhabitant Andrii Olegovych Tyschenko has served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He has been a commander of tank and even won military competition in 2016. But he has not been military serviceman by the time of Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine. His former colleague told Bakhmut media «Vilne radio»:
«I proposed him: «Let us come together to the conscription office because there would be soon very «hot» in Mariupol». He refused and came back to Mariupol. He called in the evening and told that the factory where his wife worked was bombed and that he was not able to leave the city. He told that he transported dead people a little bit. In a couple of months, he disappeared and did not write. I heard that he was taken by occupants to «filtration point» in Donetsk region. I did not have communication with him».
Tyschenko’s former colleague said that Tyschenko has never had pro-Russian views and he looked like beaten on a video of Russian propagandists. Perhaps, he was forced to record this video, as suggested his former colleague.
There is no doubt that if Tyschenko was captured during «filtration measures» of Russian occupants in Mariupol, he has not been a Ukrainian military captive. He has been Ukrainian civilian captive, illegally imprisoned by Russian occupants.
After first Tyschenko’s appearance in Russian media, there were no further signs of existence of «battalion named after Khmelnytsky» for months. The CJI addressed the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters on Affairs of Captives of the Main Intelligence Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. They did not confirm the creation of «battalion».
Andrii Tyschenko re-surfaced in an interview to RIA «Novosti» in October 2023 and told again about creation of «battalion» from Ukrainian military captives. On November 4, 2023, soldiers of «the battalion» were reported by Russian propagandists as taking an oath to Russia. This time Tyschenko did not look like «beaten».
Andrii Tyschenko takes oath to the Russian Federation. November 2023. Screen of video of Russian propagandists
Unit under commandment of Tyschenko was included into so-called «tactical unit «Kaskad», created from local Ukrainian policemen-traitors in occupied Donetsk in 2017. «Kaskad» has been commanded by Oleksii Dyky, former Head of the Department on Fighting Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region. He hoped to receive the position of the «minister of internal affairs» of «Donetsk People’s Republic» but Moscow authorities preferred Russian citizen Gischenko. Dyky was granted the rank of Colonel General of Russian police.
Number of soldiers of so-called «battalion named after Khmelnytsky» is unknown. «Battalion» and its soldiers have been mentioned only nine times by «Kaskad’s telegram channel within a period of more than two years. Russian propagandists and Z-reporters suddenly recalled a «battalion of Ukrainian captives» in autumn 2023.
Last time Tyschenko has been shown by Russian propagandists in January 2024. He gave an interview to Russian propagandist-blogger Mykhailov. He told that soldiers of his «battalion» have been already «examined» by Russian intelligence services and real fighting. He reported that some of them received Russian awards «For courage».
Andrii Tyschenko with his son Mykyta and wife Viktoria. July 2024. Photo: social media
Most recent photo of Tyschenko in social media is dated by July 2024. He was alive and relaxing with his family at the sea coast, perhaps, in Crimea. Further destiny of this «commander of battalion» is unknown.
Heroes of Russian propagandist TV series
At the end of last year Russian propagandists broadcast a series of similar interviews with former Ukrainian military servicemen. Some of them deserted from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Some of them have been accused by Ukrainian law enforcement bodies of state treason.
Kyrylo Spasskin, deserter, soldier of illegal military unit «Kaskad»
It is deserter Spasskin Kyrylo Oleksandrovych, 30 years old, from village of Yalta in Donetsk region. Before the Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine, he has served in Donetsk unit of Ukrainian Border Troops at checkpoint «Novotroitske». He was wounded at the beginning of Russian full scale invasion and fled from Ukrainian hospital to the territory of Donetsk region, occupied by Russian occupants. He joined Russian troops.
Spasskin tells that his call sign is «Sky» and he serves in «Kaskad».
«My call sign is Stradivari. I was born in Rubizhne, Luhansk region. I concluded a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. I did not have any ideological, political or patriotic incentives. I was going to serve and then join squads of the Ukrainian Ministry of Emergency Situations where my relative was employed».
It is the video of 31years old Rudenko Pavlo Volodymyrovych, call sign «Stradivari», deserter.
Before 2022, Rudenko has served as driver and electrician in communication unit of the 54th separate mechanized brigade named after Hetman Ivan Masepa, located in Bakhmut.
Pavlo Rudenko, deserter, soldier of illegal military unit «Kaskad». Photo: social media
As Rudenko told, he fled from the headquarters of his brigade on the first day of Russian invasion, February 24, 2022. Then, he joined illegal military units of so-called «Donetsk People’s Republic».
In April 2024, Donetsk Specialized Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine announced suspicion of state treason to Rudenko.
30 years old Savchenko Kyrylo Andriyovych is another frequent «hero» of Russian propagandist videos and interviews (call sign – «fizruk»). He has served in the 23rd unit of the Ukrainian Border Service in Mariupol from 2014 till 2018.
Kyrylo Savchenko, deserter, soldier of illegal military unit «Kaskad»
After dismissal from the military service, Savchenko has worked as locksmith at «Azovstal» plant. On February 24, 2022, he has been mobilized into his unit. He has served at the Ukrainian checkpoint for two months in Mariupol, besieged by Russian troops.
He explained his desertion by fantastic argument under the martial law – he told that his commander, lieutenant C. of the unit of small speedboats, let him take a leave. In May 2022, Savchenko was detained by Russian occupants during «filtration measures» in Mariupol. Later he agreed to join Russian troops. In November 2023, Ukrainian law enforcement bodies announced a suspicion in state treason to Savchenko.
Last year article in Turkish media Ulusal mentioned another soldier from pseudo «battalion named after Khmelnytsky» with call sign «Kub».
The CJI identified him. He is 40 years old Denysov Denys Ivanovych, born in the village of Andriivka in Donetsk region. He became deserter of the Ukrainian Armed Forces before the Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine.
Denys Denysov, soldier of illegal military unit «Kaskad», 2023. Photo: screenshot of video of Russian propagandists
In April 2019, Denys Denysov signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces; he was appointed to the 44th artillery brigade. In February 2020, he did not return to his military unit in Ternopil. In half a year, he came to Ukrainian prosecutors and admitted his guilt. He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment but he was released with a probation period for one year. In 2022, he deserted and joined Russian troops.
Candidates for traitors
In August 2024, RIA «Novosti» launched another propagandist wave about dozens of Ukrainian military captives who were, presumably, ready to join Russian troops. Russian propagandist video showed five exhausted men, with hands behind like prisoners, who asked recruiters from so-called «battalion named Khmelnytsky» to visit them.
Captured citizens of Ukraine who would like to fight on the side of the Russian Federation as stated by Russian propagandists. August 2024. Photo: screenshot of video of Russian information agency «Novosti»
«We, group of Ukrainian military captives, ask you to look at us. We would like to join Russian troops and ask recruiters from voluntary battalion of Bohdan Khmelnytsky to visit us and answer our questions we are interested in and to accept us», as says one of them, without disclosing his name.
The Center for Journalist Investigations identified these men on a video. They were Ukrainian citizen captured by Russian occupants under different circumstances. It means that not all of them were Ukrainian military captives.
Dragolovsky Oleksandr Oleksandrovych, 30 years, is the first man at the left side. He was born in village of Proizhdzhe of Luhansk region.
Oleksandr Dragolovsky. Photo: Facebook 2020
Oleksandr has worked in coal mine «Dolzhanska-Kapitalna» in Sverdlovsk.
In 2017, he was drunk and beat a woman. When he has served as a gunner of tank T-64B in the 53rd separate mechanized brigade of Ukraine, he was two times brought into administrative responsibility. The reason was the same – drunkenness.
Mykhailenko Volodymyr Volodymyrovych, 33 years old, is close to Dragolovsky. He was born in village of Grushvytsia Persha in Rivne region. He served as a soldier in the 79th separate airborne brigade.
Volodymyr Mykhailenko, captive. Photo: social media
In accordance with decision of Ukrainian court, Mykhailenko was caught as drunk on February 15, 2024. The court imposed a penalty of 17 thousand UAH. However, he was not informed about this decision because he left his military unit on February 19, 2024. He was captured by Russian troops on February 20.
Stanislav Kadyrkov with mother Olga Kadyrkova. 2017. Photo: social media
Kadyrkov Stanislav Oleksandrovych, 32 years old, born in Shakhtarsk, is the main speaker of the Russian propagandist video. It is likely that he graduated from the institute of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. He has served as the senior inspector of police battalion of the Donetsk office of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was dismissed under lustration legislation.
In 2016, Kadyrkov participated in the Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk region. In 2018, his public asset declaration indicated that he has served in the 73rd maritime center of special operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Then, he has served in Donetsk oblast conscription center for several years.
On February24,2024, Stanislav Kadyrkov was mobilized to «Azov» regiment and defended Mariupol. According to Russian propagandists, he was captured in May 2022.
After two years in captivity, Kadyrkov told Russian propagandists: «I would like to serve in the Russian Armed Forces». So, he is still Ukrainian military captive, wearing civilian clothes, not a soldier of «battalion named after Khmelnytsky».
31 years old Mariupol resident Burkhovetsky Roman Viktorovych stands close to Kadyrkov. He studied business analysis at the local university . In April 2016, he sign military contract and served in the 54th reconnaissance battalion named after Mykhailo Tysha. He participated in the Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine.
Roman Burkhovetsky (with a bottle) during military service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 2019. Photo: social media
In August 2016, Burkhovetsky deserted his military unit, located in Nikolske of Donetsk region, for three weeks. In November 2016, he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment but was released for a probation period of one year.
The database of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs informs that in April 2022, Roman Burkhovetsky disappeared in his native village of Suzhevka in Nikolsky district of Donetsk region. It is unclear whether he has been serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at that time.
30 years old Mariupol resident Goltvenko Anton Olegovych stands at the right. In accordance with Russian project WarTears, which collects information about killed and captured soldiers, Anton Goltvenko has served in the 12th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine named after Dmytro Vyshnevetsky which defended «Azovstal».
The database of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs informs that Goltvenko disappeared at the beginning of May 2022 in Mariupol. It is likely that he has been captured with other defenders of «Azovstal». He is the only man who does not pronounce a word on the propagandist video.
Anton Goltvenko, captive. Photo: social media, 2017.
Stanislav Kadyrkov said that they refused from exchange of captives. Dragolovsky added that he knew, as minimum, sixty Ukrainian military captives who would like to join Russian Armed Forces.
In any case, the very existence of «battalion named after Khmelnytsky» as separate military unit is questionable. We see around twenty people who call themselves «soldiers» of this battalion but battalion does not have its own identity (we see only chevrons of «Kaskad»), structure and commandment. «Commander of battalion» Andrii Tyschenko disappeared.
Thus, we conclude that there is no separate Russian «battalion named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky» with Ukrainian military captives. There are several dozens of Ukrainian traitors and deserters who call themselves its soldiers. But, in fact, they are members of illegal military unit «Kaskad».
There is also Russian propagandist project which Russian media promote once per half a year.
Project tasks are clear. First, it is aimed at stimulating Ukrainian soldiers to become deserters and traitors. Second, it promotes propagandist narratives about «Nazi» and «fascists» in the Ukrainian government and Armed Forces. Third, it justifies Russian aggression against Ukraine as involuntary «special operation» to defend population from «bloody Kyiv regime».
Billions of investments into propaganda have not helped Moscow. It succeeded in recruiting only a handful of Ukrainian military captives within three years, insufficient even for the battalion.
However, we should not forget about this project as it is clear war crime of the Russian Federation and a breach of Geneva Convention on treatment of military captives.
