April 01, 2025

Neo-Nazis Return to Russian Streets


Neo-Nazis Return to Russian Streets
Participants of a neo-Nazi organization in St. Petersburg in 2014.
  Ain92, Wikimedia Commons.

Far-right groups in Russia have grown increasingly active amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, according to independent outlet Replika.

Experts describe an unprecedented rise in street violence, including attacks involving weapons. Attackers frequently post videos of their violence against migrants, unhoused persons, and LGBTQ+ people on Telegram channels.

The Sova Information and Analysis Center reported that 265 people were victims of ideologically motivated violence in Russia in 2024, including one fatality. Researchers noted these figures are comparable to those from 2011, marking a notable spike in far-right violence not seen in more than a decade.

In an interview with Replika, Alexander Verkhovsky, director of Sova, described the increase as "unprecedented," but noted it remains below the peak violence seen in 2007-2008, when approximately 100 people were killed annually in hate crimes involving some 600 perpetrators per year.

Sova’s statistics, however, do not include minor crimes causing minimal damage. Analysts from the Nazi Video Monitoring Project (NVMP) adopt a broader approach, tracking all far-right attacks posted on Telegram. Their count includes not only physical assaults, but also incidents like vandalizing vehicles with license plates from Caucasian republics or smashing windows of kiosks staffed by individuals perceived as non-Slavic. NVMP documented over 1,000 hate-motivated incidents in 2024.

Gennady, an NVMP researcher, said the project was initiated in 2023 due to a notable surge in far-right activity shared via Telegram: "These attacks were not extremely severe initially, but we recognized that quantity would eventually evolve into quality."

Sova confirms attacks have become increasingly violent, highlighting a shift from frequent minor assaults to fewer but more severe beatings, including, in early 2024, using hammers and brass knuckles.

Both experts and a victim interviewed by Replika emphasize that contemporary far-right street violence is primarily perpetrated by youths, often aged 13-14, imitating neo-Nazis from the early 2000s. They copy their predecessors' styles and practices, including attacks timed to symbolic dates, such as Adolf Hitler’s birthday or commemorations of deceased Russian neo-Nazi figures.

The shift to Telegram is noted as characteristic of the "new generation" of Russian far-right activists, partially explaining their radicalization and revival of early-2000s skinhead culture. Gennady from NVMP pointed out that Telegram hosts channels memorializing past neo-Nazi figures and channels preparing new recruits by offering advice on attacks and weapon use. Anonymous channels also exist for sharing the outcomes of attacks.

Due to Telegram’s lack of moderation and age restrictions, adolescents as young as 12 or 13 can easily join these far-right channels, view attack videos, and contribute content themselves.

Verkhovsky notes the connection between far-right Telegram activity and the ongoing war in Ukraine, arguing aggressive war propaganda has normalized violence among youth: "Aggressive war propaganda creates the perception among young people that violence is now an acceptable tool."

NVMP highlights another factor: since the start of the war, pro-government nationalist groups have gained significant influence due to their active support of war propaganda, greatly expanding their Telegram audience.

Yet experts observe mixed attitudes within Russia's far-right toward the war. Some groups actively support or participate in the invasion, while others oppose the invasion and the Russian government.

Combating the rising neo-Nazi violence poses significant challenges, as not all attacks result in police investigations or prosecutions. NVMP noted a slight increase in arrests following high-profile incidents. Telegram channel administrators promoting violence and neo-Nazi propaganda pose particular difficulties due to their anonymity.

Verkhovsky suggests infiltration and recruitment as potential strategies against far-right violence but anticipates it could take several years for Russian law enforcement to address the current wave effectively.

You Might Also Like

Artists in Custody
  • March 25, 2025

Artists in Custody

Russia currently has 42 "cultural" figures who are political prisoners and another 176 on their way to becoming the same.
Three Years, 95,000 Dead
  • February 23, 2025

Three Years, 95,000 Dead

Three years after the start of Russia's War on Ukraine, more than 95,000 Russian troops have died.
Searching for Nazis
  • June 05, 2022

Searching for Nazis

Putin says he invaded Ukraine to root out Nazis. Zelensky compares the defense of Ukraine to the heroism of the 1940s. Can both be right? No. No, they can't.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955