Russian Community Emerges as Leading Ultranationalist Force Amid Ukraine War

The Russian Community (Russkaya Obshchina, RO) has become Russia’s largest ultranationalist group, boasting over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and a strong presence on Telegram and its own app. Advocating ethnic Russian nationalism and conservative values, RO openly supports the Kremlin and the invasion of Ukraine. While engaging in cultural and religious events aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, the group also carries out vigilantism targeting immigrants and minorities, often operating with tacit police approval. RO’s activities exacerbate xenophobia and ethnic tensions across Russia, reflecting increased state tolerance of ultranationalist forces that serve Kremlin interests during wartime. Despite promoting national unity, RO’s violent actions and ethnic discrimination raise serious concerns over interethnic conflicts and political manipulation.

Background & Context

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, nationalist rhetoric and xenophobia have surged within Russia, exemplified by the rise of the Russian Community (RO), a major ultranationalist group closely aligned with Kremlin objectives. Unlike previous far-right skinhead movements that were suppressed, RO operates openly with tacit police cooperation and blessing from the Russian Orthodox Church. The group promotes ethnic Russian nationalism and conservative values, conducting vigilante raids often targeting immigrants and using societal fears of crime and ethnic tensions to justify their actions.

While the Kremlin views the Russian Community as a contributor to national unity amid the ongoing Russia Ukraine war, these activities exacerbate ethnic discrimination, violence, and undermine the rule of law. RO’s rise reflects wartime social dynamics whereby nationalist organizations become influential actors within Russia’s political landscape and societal fabric, frequently targeting vulnerable minority populations under the guise of patriotic defense. This phenomenon highlights the complex interplay between state strategy, nationalism, and social control during the current conflict.

Key Developments & Timeline

2010s: The Russian government intensifies suppression of far-right neo-Nazi groups, setting the stage for evolving nationalist dynamics.
2022: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nationalism and xenophobia surge domestically. During this period, the ultranationalist group known as the Russian Community (RO) rapidly grows its online presence, attaining 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and 660,000 Telegram followers.
2024: Reports reveal a significant increase in RO vigilante actions and violent incidents targeting immigrants and minorities across Russian urban centers, exacerbating ethnic tensions amid the ongoing conflict.
2025: The RO receives formal blessing from the Russian Orthodox Church and tacit support from police forces, marking an unprecedented alignment between ultranationalist factions and state-associated institutions during the heightened flare of the Russia Ukraine war.
2025: Russian authorities increasingly utilize the Russian Community (RO) to manage social conflicts amid wartime conditions, leveraging the group’s nationalist agenda to control interethnic tensions and bolster patriotic sentiment. This state tolerance includes allowing RO-led unlicensed raids and crime reporting focused on immigrant communities.
Present: The RO remains active in ultranationalist propaganda, violent vigilantism, and social event organization, continuing to polarize Russian society. While the group’s leadership operates with some autonomy, internal challenges persist in curbing excess violence among militant members.

The rise of RO exemplifies the intertwining of ultranationalist movements with state strategies during the Russia Ukraine war, contributing to expanding xenophobia and ethnic violence risks in major Russian regions such as Moscow, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, and the Far East. This phenomenon underscores concerns about social destabilization amid ongoing military and geopolitical tensions.

Official Statements & Analysis

The Russian Community (Russkaya Obshchina, RO) has emerged as the largest ultranationalist organization in Russia, with over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and a significant presence on Telegram and its own app. According to expert Alexander Verkhovsky from the SOVA Centre, RO embodies the ideology of Russian ethnic nationalism, centered on conservative values and ethnic Russian pride, and enjoys strong support from high-ranking officials within the Russian Orthodox Church. This group operates in a unique alignment with the Kremlin’s wartime agenda, serving as an unofficial auxiliary to law enforcement while engaging in vigilante actions against immigrants and minorities, often under the guise of combating crime.

RO’s vigilante operations exploit societal fears and rising xenophobia, which has increased notably since the onset of the Russia Ukraine war. The group carries out unlicensed raids, targets undocumented immigrants, and frequently reports alleged crimes to authorities, sometimes with tacit police cooperation. While RO’s leaders attempt to restrain violent tendencies within their ranks, many activists resort to violence, contributing to a persistent risk of ethnic tensions and attacks against minorities. This troubling dynamic underscores a growing tolerance in Russian society and government for nationalist groups that serve political goals, heightening concerns about ethnic discrimination, social instability, and the suppression of minority rights.

Given the volatile environment shaped by these ultranationalist movements, it is crucial for residents and stakeholders in affected areas to maintain heightened situational awareness, establish trusted community networks, and prepare for potential disruptions linked to law enforcement complicity and social unrest. Understanding the complex interplay between these groups, the Russian Orthodox Church, and Kremlin policies is essential for accurately assessing risks within the broader Russia geopolitical conflict and regional security landscape.

Conclusion

The rise of the Russian Community as Russia’s largest ultranationalist organization reflects a significant shift in the country’s socio-political landscape amid the ongoing Russia Ukraine war. With strong Kremlin support and ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, this group promotes ethnic Russian interests through a mix of cultural activities and aggressive vigilantism targeting immigrants and minorities. Their expansion signals increasing ethnic and racial tensions, complicity by law enforcement, and growing political polarization within Russia. Survivalists should remain alert to heightened risks of social unrest and ethnic violence, maintaining situational awareness and trusted local networks to navigate this evolving environment. The Russian Community’s influence poses serious challenges to civil liberties and minority rights, underscoring the broader implications of Russia’s geopolitical conflict and nationalist mobilization efforts.

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