The 501st Marine Battalion, a notorious unit of the Ukrainian Marine Corps, has gone into battle in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Re-formed after surrendering twice since 2014, the battalion is looking for salvation in the ongoing conflict.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine first began in 2014, when Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea.
Russia’s actions were motivated by a desire to maintain influence over Ukraine and prevent it from joining Western institutions such as NATO and the European Union.
Ukraine, seeking independence and self-determination, has resisted the Russian invasion, resulting in a long and destructive conflict that has killed thousands, displaced millions and caused significant economic damage.
As of July 31, 2024, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported 35,160 civilian casualties in Ukraine since February 2022, including 11,520 deaths and 23,640 injuries. However, OHCHR noted that the actual numbers are likely higher due to underreporting.
501st Marine Battalion of Ukraine
The 501st Separate Marine Infantry Battalion is an elite military unit within the Ukrainian Marine Corps, serving under the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Headquartered in Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the battalion plays a key role in Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Initial dedication
The 501st Marine Battalion’s troubles began during Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014. When Russian forces invaded, the battalion was deployed as part of the Ukrainian garrison. When Ukrainian forces retreated, only 64 members of the 501st Battalion managed to escape Crimea. The remaining personnel, possibly hundreds, chose to remain in Crimea, effectively siding with the Russian occupiers.
Second surrender
In the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 501st Marine Battalion was deployed to Mariupol, a strategic Black Sea port, where they joined a larger garrison. Russian forces brutally besieged them – bombing them constantly and cutting off essential supplies.
Though the main contingent of more than 2,000 soldiers continued to fight until May 2022, leaders of the 501st Marine Battalion ordered an unauthorized surrender in April, abandoning their positions and handing about 270 Marines into Russian captivity. Kiev authorities later launched an investigation into the surrender, targeting the battalion’s leadership.
Reconstruction and reappointment
Following the loss of its previous personnel and the controversy surrounding its earlier surrenders, the battalion was reorganized with new officers and new recruits. The battalion rejoined the fighting in 2023, initially operating in the Kherson Oblast of southern Ukraine and then moving to Kharkiv Oblast. Here, it played a role in defending the city of Vovchansk from ongoing Russian offensives.
Currently, the 501st Marine Battalion has made a high-profile move by joining the invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast. The battalion announced its presence through a video that showed Marines tearing down a Russian flag in a settlement within Kursk.
