Civil Protection Units

Civil Protection Units (YPS)
Yekîneyên Parastina Sivîl (YPS)
Flag of the YPS
Active20 December 2015– 12 May 2025
CountryTurkey
TypeLight infantry militia
Size12,000-20,000
Part ofKurdistan Communities Union
Engagements

The Civil Protection Units (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Parastina Sivîl, pronounced [jɛkinɛjen parastɪna sɪvil]; YPS), also known as Civil Defense Units, was a primarily Kurdish rebel group and main armed force in Turkish Kurdistan. The YPS was formed by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to better organize and train the youth fighters in the Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement, otherwise known as the YDG-H. In 2015 the YDG-H reorganized themselves in to what is known as the YPS today.

On 12 May 2025, the Kurdistan Workers' Party announced it would disband as part of a peace initiative with Turkey.