The formation known as the Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion, composed of former Ukrainian prisoners of war, held an oath-taking ceremony that drew international attention after reports from RIA News.
During the ceremony, witnesses described each participant voicing a pledge that bound them to the Russian Federation. The words included a commitment to uphold the Constitution of the Russian Federation, to follow military regulations, and to heed the orders of commanders and superiors. The oath also emphasized a duty to defend Russia’s freedom, independence, and constitutional order, along with a pledge to protect the Russian people and the Fatherland. These declarations were presented as a formal reaffirmation of allegiance by individuals who had previously pledged loyalty to Ukraine. The reports noted that the oath was part of a broader transition for the unit as it integrated into Russian military structures.
Vladislav Kovalenko, a former Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman who joined the battalion, spoke of a prior oath to the Ukrainian people and described his stance as not betraying those who remain under what he described as a campaign in Kyiv. He characterized the Ukrainian people as being in a difficult situation, claiming a sense of solidarity between Ukrainians and Russians despite political ruptures. Kovalenko stated that the two peoples share common faith and traditions and described them as essentially one people in his view.
According to Kovalenko, this sense of dual loyalty reflects a long-standing belief among some members of the battalion that their actions are aimed at aligning with the broader interests of both nations without severing their ties to the Ukrainian people. The remarks attributed to him drew attention to a perceived brotherhood between Ukrainians and Russians, framed as a common cultural and historical bond that transcends current political divisions.
Toward the end of October, Andrey Tishchenko, who previously served as a tanker in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and who held a leadership role within the battalion, indicated that the unit would be incorporated into the Russian military structure and would soon participate in front-line operations. This statement underscored a transition from a stand-alone battalion into a component of a larger operational framework.
Observers noted that Bogdan Khmelnitsky’s battalion began operating under Russia’s operational combat tactical formation known as OBTF Cascade toward the close of the preceding month. The shift signified a change in command and a shift in mission readiness, aligning the battalion with a formal Russian command chain and deployment plans.
Earlier reports from February 2023 identified the battalion’s origins as a group created around Bohdan Khmelnytsky, with its status described as evolving from an initial formation connected to the DPR. The narrative presented by various sources highlighted the complex and controversial path of a unit formed from former prisoners of war and their evolving role within the broader regional conflict.
In recounting recent events, some participants described a perceived lack of clarity regarding the roots of the conflict in Ukraine. The accounts suggested that divergent views informed decisions within the battalion, reflecting the complicated political and military landscape surrounding the war.