The Sheikh Mansur Battalion (SMB), also known as the Sheikh Mansur Chechen Peacekeeping Battalion, is an ethnic Chechen volunteer formation that is involved in the Russian-Ukrainian invasion. Participating on the side of Ukraine, the Sheikh Mansur Battalion has been active since 2014 and is primarily made up of veterans of both the First and Second Chechen wars. Highly motivated and well-experienced, the battalion has been at the forefront of reconnaissance and sabotage operations since the beginning of the Donbas war in 2014.

1 History of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion has a history dating back to its initial formation in 2014. It underwent a period of inactivity after the handing in of weapons and equipment, but was reestablished in 2022 following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

1.1 Initial Formation of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion (2014)

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion was initially formed in 2014 in Denmark by the Free Caucasus Organisation, which was created in 2006 by political emigrants of Chechen and Caucasian origin. 

On 25 October 2014, the Free Caucasus GPA Presidium initiated the creation of a battalion, which was named after Sheikh Mansur (more on the Ideology of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion section below), a Chechen military commander who led a resistance against the Russian expansion in the Caucasus from 1785-1791. Its first, and only, commander was announced to be Muslim Cheberloevsky, a veteran of the two Chechnya-Russia wars.

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion split from another Chechen armed formation, which is also fighting in Ukraine, the Dzhokhar Dudayev battalion. This was due to the leaders of the battalion recognising the need to act on two important fronts of the war, Kramatorsk and Mariupol.

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1.2 Participation in the War in the Donbas

Shortly after its formation in 2014, the SMB began participating in the war in the Donbas against the Russian-aligned separatist movement. They mainly fought in the areas around Shyrokyne, Avdiivka and Mariupol during this period.

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(H4) 1.2.1 Battle for the village of Shyrokyne

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion is known to have participated in the battle for the village of Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol, in 2015. This battle involved the Ukrainian armed forces, including the Azov Regiment and the Donbas Battalion, amongst other pro-Ukrainian formations such as the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, under which the Sheikh Mansur Battalion fought. 

They engaged in combat against the armed forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), mainly the Oplot Brigade, Sparta Battalion and other formations of the Novorossiya Armed Forces.

In a video, published by a fighter of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion, the Chechen volunteers engaged a separatist position from which DPR fighters had shelled both the Sheikh Mansur Battalion fighters and soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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1.3 Reestablishment of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion (March 2022)

Following the handing in of weapons by the Battalion and other armed volunteer formations, the Sheikh Mansur Battalion was reestablished in 2022. Although not officially announced, once the Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced, footage emerged of the Battalion’s fighters participating in the battle outside Kyiv. 

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1.4 Involvement in early fighting during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

1.4.1 Participation in the Battle of Kyiv 

Both the SMB and the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion held defensive positions near Kyiv, and they also engaged in partisan operations, sabotage, and ambushes during the Battle of Kyiv. They had initially been engaged in the Battle of Mariupol but decided to move towards the Kyiv front as it was deemed to be more important to defend the capital of Ukraine.

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1.4.2 Involvement in fighting in the Sumy Region

After initially pushing Russian troops out of the Kyiv area, the Sheikh Mansur Battalion moved to the Sumy region and began engaging Russian forces in the Northern Ukraine Campaign. 

1.4.3 Participation in the Battle for Sievierodonetsk

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion was involved in fighting in the Battle for Sievierodonetsk, notably in the nitrogen plant in the city. Footage from the Sheikh Mansur Battalion’s YouTube page shows the fighters embedded deep within the nitrogen plant and setting up defensive positions within the bounds of the industrial area.

1.4.4 Involvement in the Zaporizhzian Front

The Battalion is also known to have engaged in fighting along the Zaporizhzian Front, with an unknown number of fighters being deployed there. This uncertainty is due to fears of reprisals against their family back in Chechnya if their identities were revealed. 

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1.4.5 Participation in the Battle of Bakhmut & Soledar

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion also participated in both the battles for Bakhmut and Soledar. These battles are some of the most intensive fighting which has occurred in the whole of the Ukraine war.

Photographs and footage of the Battalion’s fighters emerged on 30 November 2022, which Russian Telegram channels claimed to show Chechen fighters who were loyal to Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic, and loyal to Putin. However, these photographs and videos showed fighters of the SMB and its leader, Muslim Cheberloevsky.

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1.4.6 Announcement of the Insurgent Campaign in Chechnya

In July 2022, the spokesperson for the Sheikh Mansur Battalion, Islam Belokiev, announced that ‘Ichkerians’ (the independent unrecognised republic in Chechnya was called the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria) had begun preparations for an insurgency campaign. 

According to Belokiev, Ichkeria is divided into three fronts and sixteen sectors, and Chechen (Ichkerian) fighters were collecting information about the deployment of Russian/Russian-aligned forces in the region.

“If Chechnya shakes, Russia will collapse”

Islam Belokiev, Spokesman for the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

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2 Ideology & Symbology of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

2.1 Ideology of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion adheres to several differing ideologies, including most prominently, Chechen separatism. This ideological basis has its roots in the fact that many of the fighters who are currently in the Battalion or founded it were indeed veterans of the First and Second Chechen wars. 

The group views Russia as their ultimate enemy and is committed to fighting Russia, its armed forces and anyone who is aligned with them. This includes the forces of the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (known as Kadyrovites).

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2.1.1 Religious beliefs of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

As the group is almost entirely made up of people from the Caucasus (mainly Chechens) and nearby regions, the group is almost wholly Islamic in nature. Although there are a number of people in the Battalion who hail from non-Islamic nations, such Ukraine, the messaging and symbolism put forward by the Battalion is almost totally Islamic-coded in nature. 

Even regarding this Islamic presentation, the group does not use Islam in a similar manner to other ‘jihadist’ groups–ISIS and JNIM, for example–but rather the group presents itself as a religious-esque battalion that is dedicated to fighting against Russia, which it sees as an “empire of evil.”

Aslan Ocherkhadzhiev, a Chechen who was living in Norway prior to joining the Battalion, stated, “We don’t divide people by religion and nationality, that’s one of our principles”

He also went on to say that although many of the unit’s fighters follow Islamic traditions and prayer routines, etc, there is ‘nothing radical’ about the unit.

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2.2 Motto of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

The motto of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion is 

“Freedom or Death” – “”Маршо я Ӏожалла”

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2.3 Insignia of the Battalion

The SMB uses several different types of identifiable insignia, including a variety of patches and symbols. This includes:

2.4 Patches in Use with the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

3 Notable Figures within the Battalion

There are several notable figures within the Sheikh Mansur Battalion. This includes the Battalion’s Commander, Muslim Cheberloevsky and several other figures.

3.1 Muslim Cheberloevsky

Umkhan Dardayilovich Avtayev, better known as Muslim Cheberloevsky, is a Chechen military commander who has been actively involved in armed fighting against Russian forces since the 1990s.

During the first Chechen War, Cheberloevsky served in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Notably, he was also a personal bodyguard to Dzhokar Dudayev, the first President of the Republic of Ichkeria.

In the Second Chechen War, beginning in 1999, he continued fighting against the Russian military. He played a key role in organising the defence and was responsible for commanding one of the sectors.

In 2014, with the help of the “Free Caucasus” organisation, Cheberloevsky travelled to Ukraine to support its military and to fight against Russian separatists in the Donbas region. He initially served as the deputy to Isa Munayev, commander of the Chechen volunteer Dzhokhar Dudayev battalion.

Following Munayev’s death, Cheberloevsky assumed leadership of the newly formed the SMB on 25 October 2014. 

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3.2 Other Notable Figures within the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

• Muslim Alimovich Idrisov – Chief of Staff [source]
• Idris Cheberloevsky – Commander within the Battalion [source]
• Murad Dzhamirzaevich Khadizov (Mansur Samashkinsky) – Commander of the military training centre & Press secretary of the battalion [source]
• Islam Bolokiev – Spokesperson of the Battalion [source]
• Anzor Mashkadov – Political representative abroad [source]
• “Nart” (call sign) – One of the battalion commanders [source]
• “Khaybach” (call sign) – Commander of the Special Purpose Detachment “Black February” [source]
• “Makhno” (call sign) – Commander of the “Khortitsa” Detachment
• “Ragnar” (call sign) – The battalion’s military instructor [source]
• “Shamil” (call sign) – Commander of the Imamat Special Purpose Detachment [source]

4 Equipment of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

Because the SMB is a volunteer organisation and is not officially integrated within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it has to support its fighters through the purchasing and donation of arms and equipment. 

A strong social media presence, as evident through multiple YouTube, telegram and Instagram channels, facilitates this drive for donations as well as recruitment.

4.1 Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) in use with the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

This is a list of several weapons which have been pictured in use with the Sheikh Mansur Battalion:

4.1.1 Small Arms

4.1.2 Explosive Launchers

4.1.3 Explosive Munitions

4.1.4 Fire Extinguisher RPG Variant

In December 2022, footage emerged of Sheikh Mansur Battalion fighters wielding what appeared to be an RPG launcher with a munition crafted from the body of a small fire extinguisher. 

It appeared to show that a small fire extinguisher had been emptied and refilled with explosive and shrapnel material and adapted to fit the boosters, which are present on the standard RPG warheads.

The fuses on the extinguisher-turned-warhead appear to be, according to Armourers Bench, either V-429 or V-429E point detonating fuses. Created for use on HE explosives produced all across the former Soviet Bloc, these fuses could also work.

They allegedly have a range of around 100m, and Sheikh Mansur Battalion fighters who have used them in combat have stated that they are “very effective” and three times more powerful than a normal OG-7V (RPG fragmentation warhead).

4.2 Vehicles in Use with the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

Due to the small size and lack of proper funding which the Sheikh Mansur Battalion receives, due to its reliance on donations, they have only been pictured using trucks and other civilian vehicles to move weapons, supplies and fighters.

However, the group has been shown to modify civilian trucks to fit explosive launchers such as crafted-MLRS platforms, as well as fitting pre-made weapons systems onto their trucks. [source]

4.3 Drone Usage by the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

The Battalion has also made extensive use of drones for both reconnaissance and direct attack missions. This includes:

• Locally made Kamikaze drones [source]
• Explosive-laden FiberOptic FPV Drones [source]

5 Components of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion

The identifiable components of the Shekih Mansur Battalion include:

• Battalion HQ – Includes the headquarters, management and commandant platoon [source]
• Air Reconnaissance Group “BShM” – Air Reconnaissance group responsible for surveillance and drone strike missions [source]
• 3rd Company “Makhno” – A joint unit of Chechen and Ukrainian fighters, named in honour of anarchist leader Nestor Makhno, who symbolises their common anti-imperialist ideals [source]
• Special Forces Squad “Black February” (Отряд особого назначения «Чёрный февраль») [source]
• Unit “Khortitsa” (Отряд «Хортица») [source]
• Special Forces Unit “Imamat” (Отряд особого назначения «Имамат») [source]

6 Role and Tactics

The SMB specialises in asymmetrical, guerrilla-style warfare, which is a skillset that is inherited from many of its veterans’ experiences during the Chechen Wars, particularly effective in urban environments.

They heavily focus on frontline sabotage and reconnaissance missions, placing a heavy emphasis on mobility and steering well clear of trench-based warfare. In doing so, they avoid casualties which could seriously affect the group’s small manpower pool.

Additionally, the group also leverages social media as a key component of its broader operating strategy, maintaining an active presence across a variety of platforms including Telegram, YouTube and Instagram.

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7 Ethnic Makeup of the Battalion

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion is made up of several different ethnic groups and a variety of Chechen diaspora. This includes:

• Chechens – [source]
• Norwegian Chechens – [source]
• Ukrainians – [source]
• Azerbaijanis – [source]
• Turkmen – [source]
• Kartvels (Georgia) – [source]
• Uzbeks – [source]

8 The Future and Potential Implications for the Sheikh Mansur Battalion’s Trajectory

Although the Russian invasion of Ukraine is far from over, the Sheikh Mansur Battalion is already thinking about the future. Several figures within the organisation, including fighters who spoke to Sky News in Bakhmut prior to the city’s fall, stated that once the war in Ukraine ends, their battle against Russia will not. As stated above (1.4.6 Announcement of the Insurgent Campaign in Chechnya), the group already announced that it was preparing an insurgent campaign back in Chechnya. 

Additionally, the group has received fighters returning from fighting for other Islamic groups in Syria, which raises concerns that the fighters who survive the war may go on to fight in other extremist campaigns across the globe.

Therefore, there are several potential futures for the Battalion and its fighters, which include:

1. The battalion stays in Ukraine, where they are well received and supported, and is integrated into the Ukrainian military, like other volunteer formations.
2. The group leaves and travels to Chechnya and begins an insurgent campaign against the Russian government, fully utilising their knowledge in sabotage operations.
3. Members of the group who are more radical leave the Battalion and travel to hotspots, such as Syria, Iraq, the Philippines, etc, and begin providing tactics and training to Islamist groups.

9 Conclusion

The Sheikh Mansur Battalion, an ethnic Chechen volunteer formation active in the Russian-Ukrainian invasion, has been active since 2014. Primarily made up of veterans of both the First and Second Chechen wars, it is highly motivated and well-experienced, with its primary focus being the defeat of Russian troops, both in Ukraine and back at home in Chechnya. Although it has been at the forefront of fighting since 2014, its future under the Ukrainian military and its further involvement in fighting is likely to change pending a resolution in fighting in Ukraine.