March 2019

Custos Intel Papers

Russian Paramilitary Units :
The VOSTOK Battalion

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2
The Vostok Bn ............................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Origins ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
The Yamadayev brothers .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2006 Lebanon war ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
2008 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
2009 - 2014 ................................................................................................................................................................... 7
2014 Ukranian conflict .................................................................................................................................................. 7
2015 The Reorganisation .............................................................................................................................................. 8
2019 The desertion of the Vostok Bn Cdr ..................................................................................................................... 8
The next Vostok? .......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Activities .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Members ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Sources ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

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THE VOSTOK BN

ORIGINS
In 1999 two special units were created during the 2nd Chechen war, initially at company size, but
eventually the companies grew into battalions : the VOSTOK (East) and ZAPAD (West) Spetsnaz battalions.
The battalions were made out of mostly ethnic Chechens under mainly Russian leadership. The battalions
performed similar tasks, but in different AO’s. The battalions counted between 600 – 900 fighters.

The core of the Vostok battalion personnel was formed out of former separatist fighters, who fought
against Russia in the first Chechen war, but swore allegiance to Russia after the war. The battalion was
commanded by Sulim YAMADAYEV, and was nicknamed ‘Yamadayevtsy, meaning "Yamadayev men"

Their main task was to perform operations in the Chechen mountain-forests. The battalions were directly
subordonate to the Russian GRU, but were incorporated in the structure of the regular Russian units
operating in Chechnya.

The battalions were part of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division.

During the 2008 reform, the 42nd Division was downsized into

the 18th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade. The Vostok Bn became the

1st Battalion of the 18th Bde.

In 2016 the division was re-established.

18 MRI Bde shoulder patch

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THE YAMADAYEV BROTHERS
The Yamadayev brothers originate from the GUDERMES-based Benoi clan.

They have all played an important role in the Vostok battalion.

Dzhabrail Yamadayev

In 1999, the brothers voluntarily switched

Sides, and started working for the Russians

Dzabrail was the first commander of the Vostok

Special forces unit.

In 2003 he was assassinated by a bomb attack.

In 2006 word got out that the Kadyrovs were behind

The assassination. Dzhabrail Yamadayev 1970 - 2003

President Putin posthumously awarded Dzhabrail Yamadayev with the title “ Hero of the Russian
federation”.

Sulim Yamadayev

After the assassination of his brother Dzhabrail in 2003

He took over command of the Vostok battalion. Until

the disbanding in 2008 of the Vostok battalion

he was the commander of the biggest pro-Moscow unit

outside of Kadyrovs control.

From 1 – 22 August of 2008 Sulim was wanted in Russia

On a federal warrant. Yet at that time he was commanding

The Vostok unit in the Georgian war.

In 2004 he was awarded the title “ Hero of the Russian

Federation” following the killing of an Arab Mujahideen Sulim Yamadayev 1973 - 2009

commander by the Vostok battalion. At that time the two younger brothers Isa and Badrudi became
company commanders in the Vostok Battalion.

Sulim Yamadayev was assassinated in Dubai in 2009, by the right-hand man of Chechen president
Kadyrov.

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Ruslan Yamadayev

For his actions in the second Chechen war Ruslin was

awarded the rank of colonel, and the title “ Hero of the

Russian Federation “. In 2003 he got involved in politics

and became a deputy to the State Duma. In 2004 he was

nominated for the Chechen presidency. Together with his

brothers he owned several businesses in Chechnya.

In 2008 Ruslan was assassinated in Moscow.

Ruslan Yamadayev 1961 - 2008

Isa Yamadayev

Isa Yamadayev blamed Kadyrov for the murders

of his two brothers. Isa and his brother

Badrudi in turn are wanted for planning

an attempted murder on Kadyrov.

Currently Isa is still in hiding.

Rumour is that he’s staying in Dubai.

In 2009 there was a failed assassination attempt Isa Yamadayev believed to be in hiding in Dubai

On his life. The attacker declared that he was acting under direct orders of Kadyrov.

Badrudi Yamadayev

Badrudi is considered the most dangerous of the two

remaining Yamadayev brothers by Kaduraov.

Kadurov believes that he masterminded the failed

Assassination attempt. In 2003 Badrudi was

sentenced to 11 years in prison for ab attempted

murder.

Badrudi Yamadayev currently in hiding.

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2006 LEBANON WAR
In 2006 both the Vostok and Zapad battalion were tasked with

protecting a Russian engineer unit deployed in Lebanon.

A company size unit ( 3 platoons ), comprised of volunteers from

both battalions was deployed.

The unit did not participate in peacekeeping missions.

Members of the Vostok and Zapad battalion

returning from Lebanon carrying the Russian and
Tchetchen flag

2008
In 2008 tensions between the Chechen president, Ramzan Kadyrov escalated into an open violent conflict.
The Vostok battalion’s leaders, the Yamadayev brothers along with VOSTOK battalion members were
accused of several crimes, such as kidnappings and murders and other cruelties.

Dozens of Vostok battalion members reportedly deserted their unit. In June the Vostok and Zapad
battalions were to be transformed into motorized rifle battalions.

In August 2008 both battalions were involved in the Georgian conflict, in South Ossetia. The Vostok
battalion was commanded by Sulim Yamadayev, despite the official dismissal of his post as
battalioncommander, and his status as a wanted man in Chechnya.

During the Georgian conflict, the Vostok battalion suffered several losses.

In November, Kadyrov got his way, and both battalions were disbanded. The Yamadayevs and their
followers were chased out of Chechnya, and all their properties were ransacked and burned.

Ruslan Yamadayev, a loyal Russian ally, and at that time a Russian politician, was assassinated in Moscow
in 2008.

His brother, Sulim Yamadayev, was assassinated in Dubai in 2009. According to the UAE authorities, the
assassination was carried out by Kadyrov’s right-hand man.

Kakiyev, the Zapad battalion commander avoided the Yamadayev faith, by resigning his command.
Currently he still serves within the Russian military structure in Chechnya.

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2009 - 2014
After the Vostok Battalion was disbanded, officially it was incorporated into a Russian reserve unit based
in Chechnya. Rumor however is that the battalion was never really disbanded, and that the official version
was only to put Kadyrov at ease.

2014 UKRANIAN CONFLICT

The Vostok battalion was formed in May 2014. It’s first commander was Alexander KHODAKOVSKY, a
former member of the Ukrainian secret service.

The battalion holds members of the former Vostok battalion.

According to Kodakovsky his battalion counted 1000 men.
The battalion counts Russian and Ukrainian members.
It is believed that the battalion is created, controlled and
run by the GRU.

members of the Vostok Bn in a Training camp in Donetsk

Supposedly the local GRU contact is Igor Ivanovich STRELKOV.

Strelkov also served in Chechnya from 1999 – 2005, where he
was part of the 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment ( 45
DRR ), a special forces unit of the Russian airborne troops

A former member declared that the battalion consisted for

80% of Russians.

Flag of the Vostok Battalion used in Donetsk

The Battalion’s public opening move ( some believe orchestrated and ordered by Moscow ) was the taking
of the separatist HQ. They declared that they wanted to stop the looting and bring order in the region.

Members of the Vostok Bde during the 2015 victory day parade rehearsal

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Following that action some separatists were executed, following an accusation of looting, and other more
severe crimes.

The battalion however was operating In Donetsk from as early as march 2014. It was involved in some of
the heaviest fighting during the war, more specifically the battle for the Donetsk airport on 26-27 May
2014. During that battle the most of the original Vostok members died. That and the reorganization of the
battalion into a brigade almost completely erased it’s Chechen roots.

By late February 2015, 110 members of the battalion had been killed and 172 wounded in the conflict

2015 THE REORGANISATION

By May 2015 the Kremlin started to reorganize the Donetsk militias. Over time they were more and more
being used as political tools. The battalion was often tasked with guarding business infrastructure of a local
powerbroker. The Kremlin was trying to put a stop to the internal struggle, and moved the planned
reorganization ahead.

One consequence was that the Vostok battalion became the 11th Independent Yenakiyevo – Danube
Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 1st Army Corps.

By that time Khodakovsky no longer was in command of the battalion, but retained some influence
through his post as security minister.

The reorganization of 2015 bears a lot of resemblance with the reorganization of 2009.

2019 THE DESERTION OF THE VOSTOK BN CDR

Early 2019 the news broke that Svetlana Dryuk ‘Veterok’, the Vostok Bn Cdr had switched sides, and was
cooperating with the SBU (Sloezjba Bezpeky Oekrajiny), The Ukrainian Secret Service.

She supposedly shared high value information causing

the destruction of 08 Moderen T-72 B3
main battle tanks. She herself started out as a medic,
but later became a Tank commander.

It is believed that she switched sides after falling in love

with a SBU operator.

The Ukrainian separatists and Russia initially brought

another storyline. They initially claimed that Svetlana
Dryuk was kidnapped, and is now held captive by the USB, Svetlana, in the middle on her tank
who is blackmailing her with her family and kids.

Russia has produced a television movie about Svetlana, which is now being cancelled. Svetlana supposedly
handed over Russian invasion plans of Ukraine to the USB.

In mean time Igor STRELKOV branded her a Judas, and confirmed the destruction of 8 main batte tanks.
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THE NEXT VOSTOK?
The Vostok battalion concept, a Kremlin proxy fighting force is highly to be seen again in the future.
However a migration towards the use of Private military companies, such as Wagner group, which has
( and possibly ) is still operating in Syria gives the Kremlin the same advantages as a Vostok type proxy
force, but are more controllable. There is a smaller risk on internal militia rivalry.

ACTIVITIES
1. 14 Mar 2014 → First reports of the Vostok Bn operating in Crimea
2. 26 May 2014 → First battle of Donetsk airport
a. After the battle 30 bodies were repatriated to Russia.
3. 29 May 2014 → Taking of the separatist HQ in Donetsk
a. Led by Igor Girkin → a.k.a. Strelkov, a suspected GRU operator
4. 17 Jul 2014 → Allegedly the Vostok Bn was also involved in the Downing of flight MH-17.
They’ve been accused of facilitating the transport of the BuK launcher, and of hiding the
black boxes in the aftermath of the crash. They allegedly handled on orders of Moscow
5. 15 Oct 2014 → Arrest of an undercover operative, a member of the Vostok Bn
a. In july & August the undercover operative was tasked with :
i. deploying an information network in UKR controlled territory
ii. Perform acts of sabotage to destabilize the area.
6. the Vostok battalion becomes the 11th Independent Yenakiyevo – Danube Motorized Rifle
Regiment of the 1st Army Corps.
7. 03 Mar 2019 → News gets out that Svetlana Dryuk, former Vostok Bn Cdr has switched
sides.

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MEMBERS

Igor Girkin / Strelkov

‘Strelok’

Former GRU Colonel

Seen as the GRU officer running the
Vostok Bn in 2014

Currently side tracked by Moscow

Alexander Khodakovsky
‘Skif’
Vostok Bn – Donetsk
Battalion commander – 2014
Former SBU operative turned to Russia
Currently supposedly relocated to Russia

Aleksandr Semyonov
‘Sanych, San Saynch’

Vostok Bn – Donetsk
Deputy commander – 2014

Svetlana Dryuk
‘Veterok’
Former Vostok Bn Cdr
Supposedly turned side & joined Ukrainians early
2019

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SOURCES

• The New York Times

o picture of Vostok members in Trg Camp
• www.Informnapalm.org
• Wikipedia
• The Jamestown Foundation
• Outsourced Combatants: The Russian State and the Vostok Battalion by Thomas D. McGeady
• The mirror
• www.Bellingcat.com

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