On March 7, 2024 a Swedish neo-Nazi media outlet published an interview with a Russian neo-Nazi who is one of the commanders of the Sabotage Assault Reconnaissance Group (DShRG), or "Rusich." The publication is a mouthpiece for a Swedish neo-Nazi movement. As the Swedish outlet itself noted, it wanted to provide a platform for a Russian nationalist to speak on the war in Ukraine and the overall situation in Russia, especially in light of the proclaimed "de-Nazification" goal of the Ukrainian war. This goal would appear to contradict the Nationalist Socialist platform of Rusich.
The interview covers many topics. It breaks roughly into two parts: The first deals with the interviewees past involvement with football hooliganism; participation in the nationalist Russian "Slavic Union"; his service in the Russian army; the ideology of Rusich, particularly its stance on the war, the European Union, and Joe Biden's administration. The second part of the interview covers Russian society, nationalists' opinions of it and of foreign nationalist groups as well. Another important issue touched upon was the arrest, in Finland, of Russian neo-Nazi and Rusich member Yan Petrovsky ("Slavyan"), on charges of war crimes against captured Ukrainian soldiers. This brought the group into conflict with the Kremlin.
In the interview, the Rusich member states that the group, from the moment of its founding in 2014, was conceived as a para-military nationalist group. In contrast to other neo-Nazi groups, Rusich didn't engage in street actions and was focused on military training, preparing for a war. The backbone of the group was "nationalists, patriots, and right-wing radicals." He emphasizes that Rusich ideology is National Socialism (albeit with some modifications). The group perceives Russia as a white, European country that serves as a protector and uniter of Slavic peoples. The non-Russian peoples residing in the country, according to the group, should be denied any cultural or political autonomy.
In 2014, Rusich joined the hostilities in the east of Ukraine. However, Rusich is a loose organization, and its members participated in hostilities in Ukraine within the ranks of other divisions of private military companies (PMCs). For instance, in one of its Telegram posts, Rusich criticizes "numerous pseudo-PMCs" who are part of the Ministry of Defense-affiliated "Redut" PMC. The group comments on payment problems experienced by Rusich members fighting in Veresk PMC, and in Redut. The group praises Espanola PMC and its head, Stanislav Orlov, or "Ispanets." A Russian media investigation by Vazhnie Istorii connects Espanola PMC with close associates of Vladimir Putin, Arkady and Boris Rutenberg's.
Over the years, the group expanded its field of work. In addition to military operations, Rusich launched a military-patriotic club, an information department, and a finance department. The latter is an important division, as it runs fund-raising campaigns and procures modern military equipment and arms. For instance, on March 2, the Rusich Telegram channel paraded high-sensitivity thermal optic military equipment and automatic rifle manufactured by Russian arms manufacturer Vlad Lobaev. The equipment was purchased by supporters and subscribers of a fundraising group.
The screenshot depicts the AGM StingIR 384W, and StingIR 640W manufactured by AGM Global Vision, as well as munitions and a rifle manufactured by Lobaev Arms.
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