On July 20, the nationalist Russian Community (Russkaya obshchina, Русская община) posted a video of black-clad men harassing migrant merchants in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk (Telegram/RusObshinaNSK, July 20; Al-Jazeera, July 26). Such “patrols” by the paramilitary group have become more commonplace in recent months. The Russian Community has grown in popularity over the past few years in its mission to fight for ethnic Russians in Russia.
The transformation of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine into a protracted war of attrition has triggered the spread of both paramilitarization and radicalization in Russian society (see EDM, January 29, March 20, 27, 2024; see Jamestown Perspectives, February 3). The Kremlin’s cult of militarism mixed with raging ethnic hatred has rapidly transformed into pervasive xenophobia that has only skyrocketed following the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in March 2024 (see EDM, March 26, 28, 2024).
The heated environment has resulted in the further growth and development of Russia’s paramilitary and private military landscape. Alongside traditional formations such as the Wagner Group, the paramilitary space has become “enriched” with groups that propel virulent ideas of ethnic and racial hatred to a new level. Such formations include the Española nationalist group, which grew out of soccer hooliganism; the Russian Imperial Movement; and the “Rusich” neo-Nazi formation (see EDM, March 20, 27, 2024).
Menacing as they may appear, none of these groups seems to have any real potential to outgrow their current status (i.e., marginal militants) and transform into self-sufficient actors capable of gaining mass public support. The Russian Community, however, has flown under the radar until recent months. Depending on the trajectory of Moscow’s war and future internal conditions, the Russian Community presents quite promising potential for more widespread support and militancy that may further threaten the Kremlin’s monopoly over violence (see EDM, May 27).
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