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World

Out in force: Ukraine's Self-Defense

As the revolution on Kyiv's Maidan Square took hold, the city's police force essentially dissolved. That prompted the revolutionaries to take matters into their own hands by forming the so-called Self-Defense Forces.

  • photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Taking a stand

    As the Maidan revolution pushed out the Ukrainian government, most of Kyiv's police forces abandoned their posts. The revolutionaries, not wanting looting and arson to spoil the success of their cause, took it upon themselves to police the city. Wearing second-hand military surplus, these civilians from many professional backgrounds and ages are now the de-facto police in Kyiv.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Beyond the barricades

    Governmental buildings were among the first locations to be protected by the Self-Defence Forces. Behind this group of men is the presidential residence, used by ex-President Viktor Yanukovych. The streets leading to it, and other institutions such as the parliament and central bank, are guarded 24 hours a day.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Resourceful revolutionaries

    From a former women's shoe store in central Kyiv, the Self-Defence Force organizes its patrols, recruits new members and takes complaints from citizens. Security for Kyiv's 2.7million inhabitants is directed from these makeshift headquarters. Run by volunteers from across Ukraine, the shoe store now has a kitchen, sleeping rooms and a clinic for members and any citizens in need.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Fractured force

    The Self-Defence Force was founded by current Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov to protect protestors from riot police. Now numbering 8,000 volunteers, they follow a charter that promotes "the European choice and unity of Ukraine." Members are not officially allowed to mask themselves or carry weapons. However, most men flaunt these codes and groups are fractured under the leadership.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Right-wing elements

    The extreme right-wing of the "Right Sector" independently guard Kyiv’s streets without loyalty to the Self-Defence forces. Officially they "co-operate"” with other groups, but because of its superior organization, the far right operates its own policing efforts. The future role of right-wing groups in Kyiv remains unclear, but their inclusion in future Ukrainian governments seems assured.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Symbol of corruption

    The Self-Defence Groups' priority is the pursuit of "Titushki," men hired by the Yanukovych regime to attack protestors in the Maidan. These men, viewed as traitors by the revolutionaries, are dealt with particularly harshly if found. The term "Titushki" comes from the name of a man who attacked a Ukrainian journalist, and became a symbol of corrupt leadership and censoring free speech.

  • Photo: Christophe Bobyn

    Indiscriminate violence

    A suspected Titushki (center, with hood) is led to a van by Self-Defence members after he was interrogated. Allegedly beaten with baseball bats during questioning, he was forced to wear a dog leash before purportedly being handed over to the police. Such incidents highlight fears over how much control the leadership really has and of a witch-hunt atmosphere taking root as groups vie for power.

  • Bildergalerie Selbstverteidigung Kiew

    Civil responsibility

    In the Kyiv district of Darnytsia, "Dimitri" patrols the streets looking for signs of looting. Over 40 official units patrol the entire city. For men such as Dimitri, the revolution has offered the first taste of civil responsibility they have ever known, motivating him to ask his employer for leave of absence to police the community.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Taking control

    Self-Defence forces direct the few police who are willing to be seen in uniform. Here two officers are instructed on how to monitor a checkpoint on the highway leading to the airport. The Self-Defence force combs the area for members of the Yanukovych regime attempting to flee the country. Self-Defence volunteers often joke that the police are forced to do more than just sleep while they work.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Growing force

    Young men in mixed military kit with homemade clubs march through central Kyiv. Volunteers from other former Soviet satellites like Georgia, Belarus, Moldova and Poland have also arrived to patrol alongside Ukrainians. "I’m grateful to Putin and Yanukovych for uniting our people against a common enemy. Even now Crimea is uniting us," said one foreign volunteer


  • photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Taking a stand

    As the Maidan revolution pushed out the Ukrainian government, most of Kyiv's police forces abandoned their posts. The revolutionaries, not wanting looting and arson to spoil the success of their cause, took it upon themselves to police the city. Wearing second-hand military surplus, these civilians from many professional backgrounds and ages are now the de-facto police in Kyiv.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Beyond the barricades

    Governmental buildings were among the first locations to be protected by the Self-Defence Forces. Behind this group of men is the presidential residence, used by ex-President Viktor Yanukovych. The streets leading to it, and other institutions such as the parliament and central bank, are guarded 24 hours a day.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Resourceful revolutionaries

    From a former women's shoe store in central Kyiv, the Self-Defence Force organizes its patrols, recruits new members and takes complaints from citizens. Security for Kyiv's 2.7million inhabitants is directed from these makeshift headquarters. Run by volunteers from across Ukraine, the shoe store now has a kitchen, sleeping rooms and a clinic for members and any citizens in need.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Fractured force

    The Self-Defence Force was founded by current Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov to protect protestors from riot police. Now numbering 8,000 volunteers, they follow a charter that promotes "the European choice and unity of Ukraine." Members are not officially allowed to mask themselves or carry weapons. However, most men flaunt these codes and groups are fractured under the leadership.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Right-wing elements

    The extreme right-wing of the "Right Sector" independently guard Kyiv’s streets without loyalty to the Self-Defence forces. Officially they "co-operate"” with other groups, but because of its superior organization, the far right operates its own policing efforts. The future role of right-wing groups in Kyiv remains unclear, but their inclusion in future Ukrainian governments seems assured.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Symbol of corruption

    The Self-Defence Groups' priority is the pursuit of "Titushki," men hired by the Yanukovych regime to attack protestors in the Maidan. These men, viewed as traitors by the revolutionaries, are dealt with particularly harshly if found. The term "Titushki" comes from the name of a man who attacked a Ukrainian journalist, and became a symbol of corrupt leadership and censoring free speech.

  • Photo: Christophe Bobyn

    Indiscriminate violence

    A suspected Titushki (center, with hood) is led to a van by Self-Defence members after he was interrogated. Allegedly beaten with baseball bats during questioning, he was forced to wear a dog leash before purportedly being handed over to the police. Such incidents highlight fears over how much control the leadership really has and of a witch-hunt atmosphere taking root as groups vie for power.

  • Bildergalerie Selbstverteidigung Kiew

    Civil responsibility

    In the Kyiv district of Darnytsia, "Dimitri" patrols the streets looking for signs of looting. Over 40 official units patrol the entire city. For men such as Dimitri, the revolution has offered the first taste of civil responsibility they have ever known, motivating him to ask his employer for leave of absence to police the community.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Taking control

    Self-Defence forces direct the few police who are willing to be seen in uniform. Here two officers are instructed on how to monitor a checkpoint on the highway leading to the airport. The Self-Defence force combs the area for members of the Yanukovych regime attempting to flee the country. Self-Defence volunteers often joke that the police are forced to do more than just sleep while they work.

  • Photo: Christopher Bobyn

    Growing force

    Young men in mixed military kit with homemade clubs march through central Kyiv. Volunteers from other former Soviet satellites like Georgia, Belarus, Moldova and Poland have also arrived to patrol alongside Ukrainians. "I’m grateful to Putin and Yanukovych for uniting our people against a common enemy. Even now Crimea is uniting us," said one foreign volunteer


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