thumb|Members of the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death with their commander [[Maria Bochkareva (far right) in 1917.]]
Women's Battalions () were all-female combat units formed after the February Revolution by the Russian Provisional Government, in a last-ditch effort to inspire the mass of war-weary soldiers to continue fighting in World War I.
In the spring of 1917, Kerensky, the Russian Ministry of War authorized the creation of sixteen separate all-female military formations. Four were designated as infantry battalions, eleven slated as communications detachments and a singular naval unit. These women, along with a number of high-ranking members of the Russian government and military administration, believed that female soldiers would have significant propaganda value, their example revitalizing the weary and demoralized men of the Russian army. Simultaneously, they hoped the presence of women would shame hesitant male soldiers into resuming their combat duties.
- 1st Petrograd Women's Battalion
- 2nd Moscow Women's Battalion of Death
- 3rd Kuban Women's Shock Battalion
- 1st Women's Naval Detachment
- Minsk Women's Separate Guard Militia
- Saratov Women's Shock Battalion Facing withdrawal of official support, the 2nd Moscow Women's Battalion of Death began to disintegrate in September. Just prior to disbanding however, about 500 volunteers were sent to the front at their own request without the knowledge or permission of the military authorities.