After the termination of the activity of the Wagner PEC in Ukraine, new private military companies (PECs) have emerged, which continue to participate in hostilities in the east of Ukraine. Political analytics Anna Kruglova in the Rusi column describes in detail what Russian PVCs have now replaced the Wagner on the front and their role in modern conflict.
As Wagner Group actually ceased to exist last year after the death of its leader Yevgeny Prigogin, it may seem that the threat from non -state entities on the battlefield in Ukraine has disappeared. However, Ukraine continues to attract a variety of paramilitary groups, most of which are extremely right.
One of the most famous is Rusich, which has been actively involved in the conflict in Ukraine since 2014 and adheres to neo -Nazi beliefs. One of its leaders, Alexei Milchakov, became famous not only for being publicly and proudly called himself a Nazi, but also a tendency to sadistic violence after he shot on video how he kills and eats a puppy. However, it should be noted that "Rusich" seems to be not particularly popular with the Russian extreme right. Thus, Sergei Korotky, one of the creators of the Russian National Socialist Movement and an ally of the most recent Russian neo-Nazim Maxim Martsinkevich (nicknamed Tesak), stated that such people as Milchakov consider "failures" in movement and consider their participation in the war. This may be true because the group's social channels contain very little ideological content, and the small amount that is accessible is mostly devoted to the murders of Ukrainian soldiers, who, apparently, considers Rusich a second -rate race.
Another extremely rights are the Russian imperial movement (or, in particular, its military wing, imperial legion) and its smaller branches, which call themselves "nationalists". They believe that Ukraine as a state should not exist and it is just part of Russia; Therefore, they consider their participation in the war as a contribution to the unification of Russian territories with the ultimate purpose of creating a new Russian Empire with the ruling monarch. The social networks of the group are full of posts on explaining its views and justifying its participation in the affairs of Ukraine. It should be noted that, despite the passionate greetings of the war and active participation in it, the group positions itself as opposition to the Russian government. In its rhetoric, it is hoped that her participation will eventually help to achieve her strategic goal - a change in the regime in Russia and the capture of political power.
Over the past year, the so -called Russian Volunteer Corps (RDC) has also gained some popularity as a Russian grouping on the side of Ukraine. This group was founded in August 2022 by Denis Kapustin (now Nikitin), a Russian citizen from Germany. Cabbage is believed to hold neo -Nazi views and is even called "a key figure in European extremely right circles" and "one of the most dangerous neo -Nazis in the region." Another participant of the movement, Alexei Levkin, was previously headed by the neo -Nazi group "Votanugend" and called the hero of the Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik. Several other members have also repeatedly expressed public support to extreme right groups and terrorists.
Nikitin himself said in an interview with PBS: "Islamization, cultural Marxism, multiculturalism - I think that all this is all these things harmful. European culture is definitely endangered. I believe in things such as great replacement." These and other comments by Nikitin are in line with an extremely right ideology that leaves no doubt about the political views of his himself and his movement. However, from interviews with other members of the movement, it is evident that the degree of adopting these views varies - some members say they adhere to traditionalist views, but do not agree with more extreme right ideas, and others even claim that the image of the RDC as an extremely right group was created and moved by their opponents. Although this may be true, Russian neo-Nazis have expressed support for RDCs on their social networks (for example, in the Telegram-Socialist Telegram) and even called for donations to help the wounded RDC fighters to receive medical care.
In addition, there are two other groups that support Ukraine - the Legion of Freedom of Russia and the Siberia Battalion, but reliable information is not enough to draw unambiguous conclusions about their ideological orientation.
In any case, despite the disappearance of the Wagner group, Ukraine still remains an attractive field of action for various non-state entities, many of which are maintained by extremely right beliefs and are active on social networks, reporting their activities and recruiting new members, as well as acting. Their presence in the region is a cause for concern, it not only further aggravates the situation on the battlefield, but also threatens security for Europe, as these groups can try (as some have already done) to bring their activities outside Ukraine.
