| Unit Name: | 14th Guards Artillery Brigade "Kalmius" |
| Native Name: | 14-я гвардейская артиллерийская бригада «Кальмиус» |
| Dates: | 21 June 2014 - Present |
| Country: | Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2022) (2022–present) |
| Branch: | DPR People's Militia (2014–2022) (2022–present) |
| Role: | Special operations |
| Size: | about 1,000 troops |
| Command Structure: | 1st Donetsk Army Corps |
| Garrison: | Donetsk |
| Nickname: | Miner's Battalion |
| Battles: | War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Current Commander: | Konstantin Kuzmin |
The Kalmius Brigade[1] or 14th Guards Artillery Brigade "Kalmius" (Russian: 14-я гвардейская артиллерийская бригада «Кальмиус»; MUN 08802) is a military unit of the Russian Armed Forces. Until 2023, it was unit of the Donetsk People's Republic operating within the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya. Media often refer to it as a battalion of special purpose.[2] Konstantin Kuzmin commanded the unit. The unit's name comes from the river of the same name, one of the largest rivers in Donbas. On February 16, 2015, the Kalmius battalion was included in the sanctions list of the European Union and Canada,[3] [4] and was later sanctioned by the governments of Norway and Switzerland.[5] [6]
The Kalmius Battalion was established on June 21, 2014. Former miners constitute the core of the battalion, original strength being about five hundred people. The first commander was Fedor Berezin, who later became deputy of Igor Girkin.
The baptism of fire for the battalion came on 26–27 June 2014 in Donetsk, when it took part in an assault on the Internal Troops of Ukraine, which occurred without casualties. In July, the battalion was involved in the fighting near Donetsk. In August, the battalion captured 13 Ukrainian officers, including a colonel. In January 2015, the Kalmius battalion participated in battles around Debaltseve.
The unit's core comprises mainly volunteers; as of fall 2014 the unit had the following structure: