The events in the Belgorod region have provoked many resonant reactions, both among Ukrainians and the world community. Learn more about the history and motivation of the russian Freedom Legion and the russian Volunteer Corps

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Throughout the full-scale invasion, the authorities of the aggressor country actively denied the existence of the Legion "Freedom of russia" and the russian Volunteer Corps. They claimed that these groups were invented by Ukraine as part of an information and psychological operation against russians. However, recent events in the Belgorod region have silenced putin's propagandists.

In addition, both units have been working for more than a year as part of the International Legion of Ukraine, which includes not only russians but also Belarusians, Georgians, Britons, Americans, and citizens of other countries. Soldiers from all over the world are traveling to Ukraine to defend the country against putin and overthrow his regime. 

Detailed instructions on how foreigners can join the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine can be found here.

Who is the russian Freedom Legion: the history of the unit's creation

The first mention of the creation of a special military formation of russians who were captured in Ukraine and expressed a desire to fight the putin regime together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine appeared on March 11, 2022. Less than a month later (on April 5), foreign correspondents held their first briefing with three russian soldiers who called themselves the russian Freedom Legion.

Around the same time, after the russian army withdrew from the Ukrainian capital, the world learned about the terrible atrocities committed by the russian invaders in the Kyiv region, particularly in the cities of Irpin and Bucha. This was the driving force that motivated russians to fight side by side with Ukrainians against the kremlin.

Among the volunteers were not only servicemen involved in the Special Military Operation who voluntarily surrendered, but also russian citizens who came to Ukraine on their own through third countries.

In addition, at the end of last year's spring, supporters of the Legion of Freedom were activated in the russian federation. They set fire to military registration and enlistment offices and other institutions involved in war crimes on the territory of Ukraine, leaving special marks with the letter "L" or white, blue and white flags, which became symbols of the russian unit.

What is the RVC (RDC): when did the unit appear?

Far-right russian nationalists have been fighting on the side of Ukraine since 2014, and they were the founders of the russian Volunteer Corps in August 2022. Prior to that, right-wing russians fought the russian army as part of Ukrainian military units or TROs (territorial defense). 

The main symbol and emblem of the unit is a stylized "spike" created by white immigrant Viktor Larionov in the 1930s for the White Idea paramilitary youth group. Unlike the Legion of Freedom, only ethnic immigrants living in Ukraine can join the RVC.

Today, the LFR (LSR) and the RVC are listed as terrorists and extremists in russia. If they return to russia, they face criminal liability under Article 205.4 of the Criminal Code.

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What do the fighters of the Legion of Liberty and the RVC want?

The motivation of russians fighting on the side of Ukraine is not limited to one idea. Some of them have long lived in Ukraine and felt the need to protect their newly acquired home from invaders. Others came after the full-scale invasion began because they could not tolerate the atrocities committed by the russian army. Another part of the volunteers want to overthrow putin's regime and free russians from the cage in which they were forced by the authorities and return to a free country after the war, and at the same time prevent the kremlin from doing the same to Ukraine. 

In addition, the RVC emphasizes that one of the most important principles adhered to by the corps is the "principle of irreconcilability." This means a fundamental refusal to cooperate with representatives of the putin regime. They are convinced that it is modern russia that is behind the destruction of russians as an ethnic people in an effort to turn them into a political nation. And today, the kremlin is trying to destroy Ukrainians as well, because putin's government is filled with fear of truth and freedom.

Therefore, in addition to returning the occupied territories of Ukraine, the fighters of the volunteer military units are interested in liberating russia itself from the clutches of the putin regime. And today we can see that their motivation and determination makes all the top russian authorities nervous.

How to join the LFR (LSR) and RVC (RDK)?

It is not easy to join the ranks of russian volunteer formations, as fighters must pass a multi-level vetting process that includes a lie detector. This is due to the high level of distrust of russians and the repeated attempts of putin's government to infiltrate the corps with the help of sabotage and reconnaissance groups and collaborators.

In addition, in order to enter the territory of Ukraine, foreigners, including russians, must obtain a visa or a temporary or permanent residence permit appropriate appropriate to the purpose of the trip. 

We remind you! Drone explosions over the kremlin, a black day for russian aviation, and wagner mercenaries aggressively opposing their own. All these facts are observed in the russian army on the eve of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. We told you what other problems the kremlin is facing in anticipation of the Ukrainian attack in our previous article here.

Photo: AFP/RFE/RL

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