Russian Volunteer Corps
Russian Volunteer Corps | |
---|---|
Русский добровольческий корпус | |
Far-right | |
Notable attacks | 2023 Bryansk Oblast raid |
Allies | Ukraine |
Opponents | Russian Federation |
Battles and wars |
|
Flag | |
Website | https://rusvolcorps.com/ |
The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC;
The group claimed responsibility for a March 2023
Origin and aims
The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) was founded in August 2022
The RVC says it is made up of ethnic Russians fighting to defend Ukraine against Russia's invasion and to overthrow the government of Vladimir Putin.[2] It asserts Russia's government should abandon its imperial ambitions and instead focus on improving the well-being of ethnic Russians. The RVC say they believe in self-determination for Russia's various ethnic minorities and "want to see a smaller, ethnic Russian state".[5][17]
RVC uses the symbols of the anti-Bolshevik Russian Liberation Army, largely composed of Soviet prisoners of war in German captivity who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II, but also helped Czech partisans in the Prague uprising against the German occupation.[5][6][18]
Ideology
According to official RVC statement, their flag is ideological fusion of Victor Larionovs organizations - a person "from whose ideas, principles and beliefs we build off of, drawing parallels of historical and political continuity".[8] Victor Larionov was a member of the anti-communist White movement during the Russian Civil War who, while being exiled in 1930s created a "White Idea" - an organization that in December 1937 would join Russian Fascist party.[19] After Socialist coalition came to power in France in 1938, Larionov, among others was deported to Germany, where he became an employee of "Novoe Slovo" a pro-Nazi newspaper published by Russian émigrés in Berlin between 1933 and 1944. During the war he worked for Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, was a member of ROA.[19]
In May 2023 RVC posted their official manifesto called "
One of the members told DW that their goal is a "true nation-state of Russians in the original Russian territories — taking into account the territorial integrity of Ukraine and Belarus, as well as neighboring countries. We want to establish a state for Russians that lives in peace with all the nations that surround it."[1]
Organization
The group gathers its forces through recruiting anti-Putin activists with
Reuters has recounted assertions that "RVC fighters [have] received regular salaries from the Ukrainian defence ministry" as well as that the overall "unit [has] numbered up to 200 fighters". However, the news agency has cautioned that these statements have not been independently verified.[5]
The RVC maintains a "Free Cossack Squad" consisting of
Affiliations
According to Ilya Ponomarev, the RVC took part in a press conference on 31 August 2022 with the Freedom of Russia Legion and the National Republican Army when they signed a joint declaration. He claimed that the RVC also agreed to join the agreement.[24][25]
In October 2022, the RVC published its manifesto, identifying itself as "part of Ukraine's Armed Forces", although Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment.[26][27] In March 2023, Ukrainian military officials said the RVC was an independent group.[2] Ilya Ponomarev, political representative of the Freedom of Russia Legion, said the RVC has contacts with the Ukrainian military but operates in a "gray area".[2]
Members
Members of the group include former FSB agent Ilya Bogdanov[28] and former actor Kirill Kanakhin.[29]
Claimed attacks
Bryansk Oblast raid
On 2 March 2023, the Russian authorities claimed that an armed Ukrainian group crossed the border and carried out a "terrorist attack" in the villages of Lyubechane and Sushany, in Bryansk Oblast. Russia said the attackers fired on a car, killing two civilians, before the Federal Security Service forced them back into Ukraine.[30] On 9 March, Russia launched a barrage of missile strikes at Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in what it called "retaliation" for the attack.[31] The Russian Volunteer Corps claimed responsibility for the alleged cross-border raid, and posted videos of armed men in Lyubechane with their insignia, urging Russians to "rise up and fight" against the government.[26]
Ukrainian officials denied involvement, saying it was either a Russian false flag attack or a case of Russians rebelling against their government.[3]
On 6 April 2023, the Russian Volunteer Corps again claimed to have crossed the border into Bryansk Oblast, entering the village of Sluchovsk.[32] While Russian authorities claimed that an attempted incursion was prevented, the Russian Volunteer Corps released video showing them inside the village. During the incursion, combat operations were allegedly carried out.[33]
Belgorod Oblast raids
On 22 May 2023, the RVC and the
See also
- Civic Council (Armed Forces of Ukraine)
- Freedom of Russia Legion
- Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists
- Rusich Group – a pro-Kremlin far-right and neo-Nazi unit fighting against the Ukrainian armed forces
- Azov Brigade
- Russian Imperial Movement
References
- ^ a b c "Who are the Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine?". Deutsche Welle. 24 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kremlin accuses Ukraine of violent attack in western Russia". The Washington Post. 2 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Kremlin accuses Ukrainian saboteurs of attack inside Russia". Associated Press. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ a b "The Interview - Pro-Kyiv Russian group says it 'didn't lose a single soldier' in cross-border raids on Belgorod". France 24. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
- ^ a b c d e Pikulicka-Wilczewska, Agnieszka; Pikulicka-Wilczewska, Agnieszka (11 May 2023). "How Russians end up in a far-right militia fighting in Ukraine". Reuters.
- ^ vot-tak.tv(in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
В отличие от «Легиона "Свобода России"» руководство корпуса делает ставку не на бывших российских военнослужащих, оказавшихся в «Легионе» после сдачи в плен, а на русских правых эмигрантов, живущих в Украине.
- ^ "Inside the controversial group of Russian dissidents fighting with Ukraine against Putin". PBS NewsHour. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ a b c "«Мы — русские, и мы — не россияне»". DOXA. 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ a b "«Русский добровольческий корпус» выпустил манифест под названием «Человек этнический»". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "Who's behind the attack on a Russian region bordering Ukraine?". AP News. 24 May 2024.
- ^ a b Kilner, James (4 March 2023). "The Russian neo-Nazi hooligan who led an anti-Putin militia across the border". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Russian Volunteer Corps fighters claim to have again infiltrated Russian territory – video". The New Voice of Ukraine. 22 May 2023 – via Yahoo News.
- ^ "Denis Kapustin". Anti-Defamation League. 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Der Neonazi-Krieger" (in German). Der Spiegel. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
The neo-Nazi is officially registered on the ground floor of a grey apartment building. Nikitin, who was born in Moscow, spent his youth here.
- ^ "Leader of Russian Volunteer Corps Placed on Interior Ministry Wanted List". The Moscow Times. 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Российская оппозиция начинает вооруженное сопротивление Путину: подписано декларацию" [Russian Opposition Starts Armed Resistance to Putin: Declaration Signed]. Главком | Glavcom (in Russian). 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ "Explainer: Which Russian Far-Right Groups are Fighting in Ukraine?". The Moscow Times. 24 March 2023.
- ISBN 9780786496716.
- ^ a b Викторович, Суржик Дмитрий (2020). "ГАЛЛИПОЛИЕЦ-ТЕРРОРИСТ-ЮГЕНДФЮРЕР: ВИКТОР АЛЕКСАНДРОВИЧ ЛАРИОНОВ". Исторический формат (3 (23)): 53–59.
- ^ Weise, Peter (29 May 2023). "Homo ethnicus / Человек этнический". rusvolcorps.com. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "«Код доступа» с Юлией Латыниной: Как я ошиблась". ЭХО (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "Leader of anti-Putin force says expect more Russian border raids". Al Jazeera. 25 May 2023.
- ^ Бондаренко, Диана. "Приехали с Кубани и вступили в РДК: российские казаки воюют на стороне ВСУ под Авдеевкой". Focus. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ ""Русский добровольческий корпус", легион "Свобода России" и "Национальная республиканская армия" РФ подписали декларацию о сотрудничестве" ["Russian Volunteer Corps", Legion "Freedom of Russia" and "National Republican Army" of the Russian Federation signed a declaration of cooperation "]. gordonua.com (in Russian). 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ "Илья Пономарев опубликовал "Ирпенскую декларацию" российской оппозиции: "Вооруженное сопротивление путинскому фашизму"" [Ponomarev published the "Irpen Declaration" of the Russian opposition: "Armed resistance to Putin's fascism"]. hvylya.net (in Russian). 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ a b "'Fear your partisans' A volunteer unit led by a Russian neo-Nazi raided a small town and crossed back into Ukraine. Meduza explains the bizarre incursion and what it could mean for the war". Meduza. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Kilner, James (4 March 2023). "The Russian neo-Nazi hooligan who led an anti-Putin militia across the border". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
It is based in Ukraine, although it is not clear if it has the official backing of the Ukrainian army or government.
- ^ Roth, Andrew (24 May 2023). "'We are Russians just like you': anti-Putin militias enter the spotlight". The Guardian.
- ^ "В нападении на Брянскую область участвовал актер Кирилл Канахин — Mash" [Actor Kirill Kanakhin took part in the attack on the Bryansk region - Mash]. EADaily (in Russian). 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Russia accuses Ukraine of cross-border attack in Bryansk". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Updates: Russia pounds Ukraine in 'retaliation' for border attack". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Moscow Says Foiled Bid By Ukraine 'Saboteurs' to Enter Russia". Moscow Times. AFP. April 6, 2023.
- ^ "Russian Volunteer Corps attacks Bryansk Oblast again". 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Russian regional governor says Ukrainian 'sabotage group' crossed border". Reuters. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Russian Border Region Says Ukrainian 'Sabotage' Unit Carried Out Incursion". The Moscow Times. 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Belgorod: Russian paramilitary group vows more incursions". BBC News. 24 May 2023.