Sparta Battalion

Sparta Battalion
Батальон «Спарта»
Service sleeve insignia of the Sparta Battalion Flag of the Sparta Battalion
Active	Summer 2014 – present
Allegiance	Donetsk People's Republic
Branch	Army
Role	Special Forces
Size	about 1,000 troops
Part of	United Armed Forces of Novorossiya
Garrison/HQ	Donetsk
Nickname(s)	Motorola's Division
Engagements	War in Donbass Battle of Ilovaisk Second Battle of Donetsk Airport
Commanders
Notable commanders	Vladimir Zhoga Arseny Pavlov  †

The Sparta Battalion (Russian: батальон «Спарта») is a militia of the Donetsk People's Republic which was led by the Russian born Arsen Pavlov ("Motorola"). The battalion took part in the Battle of Ilovaisk and Second Battle of Donetsk Airport.^[1][2]

After Pavlov's assassination, the commander became Vladimir Zhoga (callsign "Voha"), a DPR fighter from Sloviansk.^[3]

Though never officially confirmed, the name and symbol of the battalion, seem to have been taken as reference of the fictional "Spartan Order" of the Metro universe sci-fiction series by Dmitry Glukhovsky.

Gallery

• 
  Sparta Battalion in Ilovaisk talking to civilians near a cellar (August 2014)
• 
  Sparta Battalion troops near the Donetsk Airport (October 2014)
• 
  Company commander of the Sparta Battalion, "Matros", in Donetsk Airport. He led the final DPR assault on the New Terminal.
• 
  Sparta Battalion fighter near the Donetsk Airport's Old Terminal (November 2014)
• 
  Arsen Pavlov with his troops on BTR-70s during the rehearsal of the 2015 Donetsk Victory Day parade
• 
  Arsen Pavlov and Sparta Battalion troops on a BTR-80 during the 2016 Donetsk Victory Day parade

References