The All-Ukrainian Public Organization “Falcon” (Всеукраїнська громадська організація «Сокіл») or VGO “Falcon”/ВГО Сокіл for short, is a far-right sports and military youth organisation formed in 2006. Its main partner is the Svoboda party and much of its leadership is affiliated with Svoboda.
The group was created by a group of Svoboda supporters and politicians, namely Taras Skiba, Ivan Kalynych, Yaryna Vayda and Bohdan Stadnyk. Sokil is a reestablishment of an earlier iteration of the movement which was previously founded in the first half of the 20th century. The first branch of this paramilitary organisation was created in Lviv.
During the Euromaidan crisis, Sokil participated in the Maidan Self Defence Groups under the command of its leader, Yurii Cherkashin:
“Sokol” activists took an active part in the Revolution of Dignity . As part of Maidan Self-Defense, a separate commandant squad “Sokil” was formed , which was then headed by the first deputy head of the organization Yurii Cherkashin 2
After the breakout of the Donbas War, Cherkashin was appointed to be the leader of the Svoboda affiliated Sich Battalion, Sokil members also joined various Ukrainian military units affiliated with the far-right, including Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, the Sich Battalion and its successor, the 49th Infantry Battalion (Sich):
In the summer of 2014, Yury Cherkashin, who at that time was also acting head of the organization, was appointed as the head of the organization. the commander of the first platoon of the special purpose battalion “Sich”, which was actively preparing to be sent to the front. It was decided that the organization would give up the status of a purely youth organization. Participation in the Russian-Ukrainian war as part of various units of the security forces and volunteer battalions, training of military personnel in all available places, material support of combat units (volunteering) was defined as the priority task of the NGO “Sokil”.
Activists of “Sokol” are or were in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine , the National Guard , volunteer battalions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine , [OUN](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B9%D0%BE%D0%BD_%C2%AB%D0%9E%D0%A3%D0%9D%C2%BB ""OUN” battalion”) and DUK , or they materially help the front. In the “Karpatska Sich” company and the “Sich” battalion , two squads were created, which were formed from “Sokol” activists 9.
Sokil has also received support from another far-right NGO, Monolith:
The Monolith 1044 NGO unequivocally supports the Falcon NGO and calls for the consolidation of other patriotic and nationalist movements!
- https://web.archive.org/web/20190306204740/http://sichovyk.com.ua/novinar/329-razom-proti-represij-ta-teroru, https://twitter.com/Sichovyk/status/648447022186516480
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