On March 19, 2014, Operation Command North established the 11th Territorial Defense Battalion, nicknamed "Kyivan Rus".

After completing training, the troops of the battalion were then stationed for duty at roadblocks in Sloviansk, where they routinely identify and hand over pro-Russian separatists to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

[2] In the early morning of August 19, units of the Russian Ground Forces used BM-21 Grad rockets to fire on the positions of the battalion.

[3][4] From September 20 to 27, the battalion repelled attacks on checkpoints in the village of Nikishyne [uk], about 10 kilometers east of Debaltseve.

On August 26, 2024, having suffered heavy losses, the battalion was forced to retreat from the village of Karlivka under the threat of encirclement.