Kathrine Frich
A Russian far-right paramilitary group has sparked outrage after promoting a gruesome online contest.
Followers were urged to send in images of Ukrainian prisoners of war who had been executed.
The move, highlighted by multiple media outlets, adds another layer to the group’s long record of extreme violence.
Contest announced
According to TVP World, the neo-Nazi group “Rusich” revealed the competition on its Telegram channel last week.
Ukrainian outlet United24 reported that the post encouraged supporters to submit photographs showing Ukrainian POWs killed by the unit.
“The first three people to submit photos of eliminated prisoners of war will receive a reward in cryptocurrency from DShRG Rusich,” the message stated.
It went on: “Send the photos anonymously and we will definitely publish them.”
The channel also circulated an unverified image said to show a Rusich fighter standing over three dead Ukrainian soldiers. The caption read: “This is how an army of winners, not losers, poses for photographers.”
Brutality documented
TVP World noted that Rusich has built a reputation for extreme violence since its emergence as a far-right sabotage and reconnaissance unit with ideological roots in neo-Nazism.
The group has been linked to the Kremlin-aligned Wagner network and has repeatedly operated alongside Russian forces.
Its fighters have taken part in battles both before and after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The organisation has also reportedly joined operations in Syria on behalf of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Western authorities have sanctioned several Rusich members over extremist activity and documented atrocities.
The group has previously posted photos of beheaded Ukrainian soldiers and has openly endorsed torture and executions.
Leadership and sanctions
Reports cited by TVP World say the group maintains at least two combat units as well as a training site near St Petersburg.
Its figures have appeared in numerous investigations into abuses committed on the battlefield.
One of the group’s senior members, Ian Petrovski — also known as Voislav Torden — was detained in Finland in 2023.
He was later sentenced to life imprisonment for involvement in the killing of 22 Ukrainian troops during fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The latest competition promoted by Rusich has renewed calls from human-rights organisations for greater scrutiny of paramilitary groups operating with ideological extremism and alleged ties to Russian military structures.
Sources: TVP World, United24, Digi24
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
