49:
77:
93:
412:
In April 2008 escalating tensions between Ramzan
Kadyrov (by then the Chechen president) and the Yamadayevs—including occasional armed clashes—erupted into an open and violent conflict. The Vostok unit's leaders were accused by the Chechen government, members of the public, and human rights groups of
417:, kidnappings for ransom and murders. Soon hundreds of Vostok fighters reportedly deserted their unit and joined Kadyrov's formations, and in June the Russian army announced it would transform both special battalions into regular motorized-rifle companies. Both Vostok and Zapad were involved in the
428:
In
November 2008, both battalions were disbanded under continued pressure from Kadyrov. It was also announced that a special commission set up by the Ministry of Defence, together with the Military Prosecutor's Office, would investigate the alleged crimes of their former servicemen. The Yamadayevs
342:) established on the territory of the Chechen Republic in 2002. The Chechen personnel were of diverse origins. Zapad servicemen were loyal to the Russian government, while the core of Vostok were former separatist fighters of the 2nd Battalion of the National Guard of
429:
and their loyalists were chased out of
Chechnya, and Ruslan Yamadayev was shot dead in Moscow. Their houses were ransacked and burned, and the mosque they built in Gudermes was dismantled. Four months later, Sulim Yamadayev was assassinated in exile in
449:. Kakiyev managed to avoid the fate of the former Vostok leaders by agreeing to resign his command of the Zapad battalion in 2007, since then, he has kept a formal position in the Russian military structure in Chechnya.
842:
425:, (despite his official dismissal from the post and his status as a wanted man). Reportedly, the Vostok detachment suffered losses in Georgia but were not accused of committing any crimes there.
354:
of 1994–1996; they then switched to the federal side and swore allegiance to Russia. The units were directly subordinate to the GRU, but operationally they were included in the structure of the
837:
377:
units in the structure of the
Russian Ministry of Defence and outside the control of the Chechen government, which was increasingly dominated by the Chechen militia leader
468:
441:. Kadyrov in turn accused the former commanders of Vostok of repeated attempts to kill him and of complicity in the 2004 assassination of his father, Chechen president
857:
326:
operated for most of the Second
Chechen War, and were briefly deployed by Russia in conflicts outside of Chechnya, until they were disbanded in 2008.
852:
334:
Vostok and Zapad were organized at the end of 1999, initially as two special companies formed in the structure of the
Mountain Grouping of the
434:
186:
731:
847:
774:
355:
312:
101:
735:
394:
786:
393:, or "Yamadayev men"), which was powerful enough to rival Kadyrov. Kakiyev and three of the Yamadayev brothers received the
827:
832:
559:
343:
335:
458:
299:
as a force of
Chechen volunteers under the direct control of the Russian government to perform operations in the
311:
covering the eastern half, and their own commanders subordinate to the GRU but under the command network of the
272:
134:
96:
418:
182:
577:
276:
154:
122:
762:
701:
674:
414:
382:
126:
779:
463:
190:
138:
713:
811:
807:
718:
662:
619:
607:
547:
296:
238:
234:
178:
750:
351:
150:
130:
798:
755:
596:
Chechen MIA: Yamadaevs' involvement in kidnapping and murder confirmed by "Vostok" battalion
582:
564:
438:
402:
359:
300:
260:
162:
158:
142:
422:
170:
548:
Conflict of "Vostok" battalion versus authorities of
Chechnya to continue on the Internet
620:"Memorial" demands to investigate the crimes of "Vostok" battalion fighters in Chechnya
446:
445:, responsibility for whose killing had been officially claimed by separatist commander
442:
378:
374:
174:
17:
821:
791:
689:
194:
21:
767:
631:
595:
516:
502:
363:
268:
25:
702:
Chechnya: search of Sulim
Yamadaev, former battalion "Vostok" commander, cancelled
48:
531:
473:
406:
166:
409:
deputy representing
Chechnya. On the other hand, Kakiyev kept a low profile.
401:, and several other businesses in Chechnya and Moscow. One of the brothers,
386:
362:, members of both units were sent to protect Russian field engineers on a
650:
646:
347:
292:
288:
284:
213:
112:
663:
Kadyrov reports dismissal of Yamadaev from commanding "Vostok" battalion
303:
of Chechnya. The two units operated independently from each other, with
632:"Kommersant": 300 "Vostok" special fighters changed for Chechen militia
535:
367:
92:
280:
146:
81:
76:
799:
Chechnya ambiguous to disbandment of "Vostok" and "Zapad" battalions
491:
373:
The two battalions (each about 600-900 strong) were the only ethnic
430:
608:
Residents of Chechnya rally in front of "Vostok" battalion base
787:
Clanning Chechnya: The combat at Gudermes to have been brewing
675:
Chechen MoI announces Sulim Yamadayev in Federal wanted list
295:
and Chechens. The Special Battalions were formed during the
732:
A Connoisseur's Guide To Chiaroscuro In Caucasus Politics
287:. The overwhelming majority of the personnel were ethnic
16:
For the Vostok Battalion that has fought in Ukraine, see
690:Батальон "Восток" из Чечни несет потери в Южной Осетии
843:
Military units and formations disestablished in 2008
751:
Going in hard with the guerrilla hunters of Chechnya
517:
No more "Zapad" and "Vostok" battalions in Chechnya
230:
208:
200:
118:
108:
87:
70:
62:
33:
808:45th '"Запад" есть "Запад", "Восток" есть "Восток"
578:Rival on run after standoff with Chechen president
532:Russian army says to cut size of its Chechen force
437:authorities, by order of Kadyrov's right-hand man
338:; they were assigned to the commandant's offices (
838:Military units and formations established in 1999
714:Killings of Leader’s Foes May Test Kremlin’s Will
385:while Vostok was controlled by the controversial
291:, while the command personnel were mixed ethnic
350:, who had fought against Russian troops in the
647:Сулима Ямадаева видели в окрестностях Цхинвали
469:Sulim Yamadayev–Ramzan Kadyrov power struggle
8:
503:Dossier: Chechen Security Forces 2000 – 2006
492:Chechnya: Vostok, Zapad battalions disbanded
397:award. The brothers owned their TV station,
307:covering the western half of Chechnya and
512:
510:
421:in August 2008, with Vostok commanded by
381:. Zapad was commanded by career officer
265:Специальные батальоны "Восток" и "Запад"
775:In the front line of Putin's secret war
484:
30:
527:
525:
7:
389:clan (thus earning them the name of
267:, lit. "East" and "West") were two
187:Tactical emergency medical services
20:. For the "Akhmat" formations, see
14:
858:2008 disestablishments in Russia
356:42nd Guards Motor Rifle Division
313:42nd Guards Motor Rifle Division
102:42nd Guards Motor Rifle Division
91:
75:
47:
560:Tensions in Chechnya Boil Over
395:Hero of the Russian Federation
1:
853:1999 establishments in Russia
519:, Caucasian Knot, Nov 08 2008
634:, Caucasus Knot, Apr 21 2008
204:1,200–1,800 active personnel
801:, Caucasus Knot, 10/11/2008
704:, Caucasian Knot, 22/8/2008
336:Russian Ministry of Defence
57:soldiers in Georgia in 2008
874:
692:, Caucasus Knot, 11/8/2008
665:, Caucasus Knot, 12/5/2008
622:, Caucasus Knot, 16/6/2008
610:, Caucasus Knot, 12/6/2008
598:, Caucasus Knot, 29/4/2008
550:, Caucasus Knot, 16/6/2008
15:
677:, Caucasus Knot, 6/8/2008
459:Borozdinovskaya operation
419:conflict in South Ossetia
264:
46:
848:Special forces of Russia
318:The Special Battalions
99:(direct subordination)
413:many crimes including
183:Special reconnaissance
415:forced disappearances
277:military intelligence
155:Military intelligence
123:Close-quarters combat
104:(operational command)
828:Battalions of Russia
763:Land of the warlords
383:Said-Magomed Kakiyev
127:Cold-weather warfare
833:History of Chechnya
464:Dzhabrail Yamadayev
250:Special Battalions
139:Forward air control
719:The New York Times
433:—according to the
297:Second Chechen War
239:Russo-Georgian War
235:Second Chechen War
222:Western Chechnya (
179:Special operations
39:Special Battalion
34:Special Battalion
352:First Chechen War
244:
243:
151:Irregular warfare
131:Counterinsurgency
865:
806:
756:The Sunday Times
739:
729:
723:
711:
705:
699:
693:
688:
684:
678:
672:
666:
660:
654:
645:
641:
635:
629:
623:
617:
611:
605:
599:
593:
587:
586:, April 27, 2008
583:The Sunday Times
575:
569:
565:The Moscow Times
557:
551:
545:
539:
529:
520:
514:
505:
500:
494:
489:
439:Adam Delimkhanov
403:Ruslan Yamadayev
360:2006 Lebanon War
358:. Following the
301:mountain-forests
266:
163:Mountain warfare
159:Maneuver warfare
143:Forward observer
95:
80:
79:
51:
31:
873:
872:
868:
867:
866:
864:
863:
862:
818:
817:
804:
747:
742:
738:, June 02, 2009
730:
726:
722:, April 6, 2009
712:
708:
700:
696:
686:
685:
681:
673:
669:
661:
657:
643:
642:
638:
630:
626:
618:
614:
606:
602:
594:
590:
576:
572:
568:, 17 April 2008
558:
554:
546:
542:
530:
523:
515:
508:
501:
497:
490:
486:
482:
455:
423:Sulim Yamadayev
332:
247:
237:
221:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
100:
74:
58:
38:
29:
12:
11:
5:
871:
869:
861:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
820:
819:
816:
815:
802:
796:
784:
772:
771:, 13 June 2006
760:
759:, May 15, 2005
746:
745:External links
743:
741:
740:
724:
706:
694:
679:
667:
655:
636:
624:
612:
600:
588:
570:
552:
540:
538:, Jun 25, 2008
521:
506:
495:
483:
481:
478:
477:
476:
471:
466:
461:
454:
451:
447:Shamil Basayev
443:Akhmad Kadyrov
379:Ramzan Kadyrov
331:
328:
245:
242:
241:
232:
228:
227:
210:
206:
205:
202:
198:
197:
175:Reconnaissance
120:
116:
115:
110:
106:
105:
89:
85:
84:
72:
68:
67:
64:
60:
59:
52:
44:
43:
18:Vostok Brigade
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
870:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
825:
823:
813:
809:
803:
800:
797:
794:
793:
792:Novaya Gazeta
788:
785:
783:, 27 Mar 2007
782:
781:
780:The Telegraph
776:
773:
770:
769:
764:
761:
758:
757:
752:
749:
748:
744:
737:
733:
728:
725:
721:
720:
715:
710:
707:
703:
698:
695:
691:
683:
680:
676:
671:
668:
664:
659:
656:
652:
648:
640:
637:
633:
628:
625:
621:
616:
613:
609:
604:
601:
597:
592:
589:
585:
584:
579:
574:
571:
567:
566:
561:
556:
553:
549:
544:
541:
537:
533:
528:
526:
522:
518:
513:
511:
507:
504:
499:
496:
493:
488:
485:
479:
475:
472:
470:
467:
465:
462:
460:
457:
456:
452:
450:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
426:
424:
420:
416:
410:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
371:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
340:kommendantura
337:
329:
327:
325:
321:
316:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
278:
274:
271:units of the
270:
262:
258:
257:
253:
246:Military unit
240:
236:
233:
229:
225:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
196:
195:Urban warfare
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
135:Direct action
132:
128:
124:
121:
117:
114:
111:
107:
103:
98:
94:
90:
86:
83:
78:
73:
69:
65:
61:
56:
50:
45:
42:
37:
32:
27:
23:
22:Vostok-Akhmat
19:
814:, 29.07.2005
805:(in Russian)
795:, 21.04.2008
790:
778:
768:The Guardian
766:
754:
727:
717:
709:
697:
687:(in Russian)
682:
670:
658:
653:, 12.08.2008
644:(in Russian)
639:
627:
615:
603:
591:
581:
573:
563:
555:
543:
498:
487:
427:
411:
398:
390:
372:
364:peacekeeping
339:
333:
330:Organization
323:
319:
317:
308:
304:
255:
251:
249:
248:
223:
217:
54:
40:
35:
26:Zapad-Akhmat
405:, became a
391:Yamadaevtsy
366:mission in
283:, based in
231:Engagements
209:Garrison/HQ
822:Categories
480:References
474:Kadyrovtsy
407:State Duma
279:agency of
167:Patrolling
53:Battalion
387:Yamadayev
66:2003–2008
812:Memorial
651:Lenta.Ru
453:See also
348:Gudermes
344:Ichkeria
293:Russians
289:Chechens
285:Chechnya
269:Spetsnaz
214:Chechnya
212:Eastern
191:Tracking
113:Spetsnaz
536:Reuters
375:Chechen
368:Lebanon
261:Russian
171:Raiding
71:Country
736:RFE/RL
399:Vostok
320:Vostok
309:Vostok
281:Russia
275:, the
252:Vostok
218:Vostok
147:HUMINT
88:Branch
82:Russia
63:Active
55:Vostok
36:Vostok
431:Dubai
346:from
324:Zapad
305:Zapad
256:Zapad
224:Zapad
41:Zapad
322:and
254:and
201:Size
119:Role
109:Type
24:and
435:UAE
273:GRU
97:GRU
824::
810:,
789:,
777:,
765:,
753:,
734:,
716:,
649:,
580:,
562:,
534:,
524:^
509:^
370:.
315:.
263::
259:(
226:)
220:)
216:(
28:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
