Friday, 23 May 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > Putin’s thug army: Russia deploys soccer hooligans to Ukraine as war drags on
World

Putin’s thug army: Russia deploys soccer hooligans to Ukraine as war drags on

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
Putin’s thug army: Russia deploys soccer hooligans to Ukraine as war drags on
SHARE

Russia will deploy violent soccer fans, known as “hooligans” or “ultras,” to Ukraine in an effort to bolster troop numbers as the conflict enters its 11th month.

“What is very clear is that Putin will not end this war any time soon,” Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former DIA intelligence officer, told Fox News Digital. “He will use hooligans, prisoners, and any sort of thug to continue flowing fighters into Ukraine, to keep it from becoming part of NATO. The mission is this important.”

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his regime view the outcome of this war as existential for Russia and for themselves personally,” she added.

News broke last month that Putin had looked to recruit extremist Russian football fans to fight in Ukraine as part of the 106th Airborne Division and the Vostok battalion, The Daily Mail reported.

RUSSIA’S LAVROV FLAT-OUT REJECTS ZELENSKYY’S CONDITIONS FOR ‘PEACE FORMULA’

The unit, known as “Espanola,” includes recruits from club supporter groups including CSKA Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg, Spartak Moscow and Lokomotiv Moscow, according to the Daily Mirror.

Russia Soccer Hooligans FlaresRussia Soccer Hooligans Flares

Fans of Russia support their team during Euro 2016 Group B football match between England and Russia at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France on June 11, 2016.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Stanislav “Spaniard” Orlov, a commanding officer of the hooligans, said that the death of one of their members in combat has already spurred the others to “stay and fight,” declaring, “Our comrade died here, and now this is our place.”

“The combat part of the detachment are people who have military experience or have served in the army,” Orlov explained to Russian news outlet Vechernyaya Moskva. “After a short training course, they directly fight in the zone of the special operation. Russian fans form small infantry reconnaissance and assault groups or send them to sapper and engineering works.”

PUTIN LAUNCHES LATEST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE ‘EMPEROR ALEXANDER III’ AS PART OF NEW FLEET

“On the basis of the Vostok detachment, newcomers train to shoot automatic and large-caliber weapons, train in sapper work, conduct reconnaissance and combat drone flights, and hone tactical training from morning to evening,” he added, stressing that there are “not jokes” among the group and that “hundreds” want to join the operation.

At the outset of the war, Putin drew on support from Chechen mercenaries, later trying – and failing – to recruit Syrian mercenaries and even prisoners to help bolster his forces as the war dragged on for months longer than Russian command had anticipated.

moscow hooligans russiamoscow hooligans russia

Riot police practice dispersing hooligans at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow May 16, 2008. Moscow’s Luzhniki will host the UEFA Champions League soccer final between Manchester United and Chelsea on May 21.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that while the department was “not in a position to confirm these reports,” it was “another indication that Putin is scraping for additional personnel to throw into this fight – troops who will just be cannon fodder for his needless, brutal, and failing war of aggression. Rather than withdraw his troops and stop this needless loss of life, Putin has chosen time and again to escalate.”

In 2018, Putin said he would ban the hooligans in his country from attending games as the world watched Russia stage the 2018 World Cup. Now, he appears to have let the fans back into the fold to help boost his military’s numbers.

KYIV, LVIV WITHOUT POWER AFTER RUSSIA LAUNCHES ‘MASS’ AIR AND SEA-BASED CRUISE MISSILE ATTACK ACROSS UKRAINE

The Russian fans famously attacked England supporters during the 2016 European Cup matches, with two men jailed after the hooligans allegedly “mounted an urban guerilla offensive, like paramilitaries,” the BBC reported.

Koffler explained that hooligans started leaving Russia for Ukraine when the government first started cracking down on violence at stadiums, but those fans turned up for Russia when Putin announced the partial mobilization in September.

Firefighters Kyiv Ukraine Russia war Iran strikeFirefighters Kyiv Ukraine Russia war Iran strike

Firefighters help a local woman evacuate from a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike, which local authorities consider to be Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles, Shahed-136, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 17, 2022.

“When Russia announced partial mobilization, founder of the All-Russian Association of Fans Andrey Malosolov announced in an interview with the radio station ‘Moscow Speaks’ that 500 of these football ultras formed a volunteer subdivision to go fight in Donbas,” Koffler explained.

“Putin, who originally was looking to ban this movement when they were creating chaos at sports events, realized that he could put them to use as heavy attrition of Russian soldiers started setting in after months of grueling fighting,” she said.

“The authorities directed these fighters to put aside their differences and varying allegiances and fight as a unified team for Mother Russia. This unit of what the Russians call ‘near-footballers’ come from different clubs … they have varying levels of experience with some having never being in combat,” Koffler continued.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“The common feature is that these are vicious characters, and they have no regard for human life: Fighting is what they do. It’s a way of life, and now they actually have a mission given to them by the Russian government to apply their brutal tactics on the actual battlefield.”

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article China’s Xi Says Nation’s Covid Strategy Was ‘Optimized’ China’s Xi Says Nation’s Covid Strategy Was ‘Optimized’
Next Article Putin seeks boost in military cooperation with China Putin seeks boost in military cooperation with China

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

US, EU announce new partnership to undercut Russian energy

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and European Union on Friday announced a new partnership…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari Served ‘Comfort Food Favorites’ at Their Wedding: Source

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari WeddingKevin Ostajewski/Shutterstock Britney Spears and Sam AsghariBritney Spears and Sam…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

James Bond is canon in ‘Physician Who’ now

Physician Who has returned with the tender but tear-jerking vacation particular "Joy to the World."…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

To mortgage or to not mortgage? That’s the query

HomeLight CEO Drew Uher says he’s glad to be out of the mortgage enterprise. Fathom…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Sergei Lavrov questions suggestion Russia-Ukraine peace talks might happen within the Vatican – Europe reside
World

Sergei Lavrov questions suggestion Russia-Ukraine peace talks might happen within the Vatican – Europe reside

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Israel-Gaza struggle reside: Kids and aged dying from hunger, minister warns, as 16 individuals killed in in a single day strikes
World

Israel-Gaza struggle reside: Kids and aged dying from hunger, minister warns, as 16 individuals killed in in a single day strikes

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Australia information stay: main NSW dam near spilling as rain strikes south; Musk’s Starlink placed on discover
World

Australia information stay: main NSW dam near spilling as rain strikes south; Musk’s Starlink placed on discover

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Kids and aged are dying from hunger in Gaza, says well being minister
World

Kids and aged are dying from hunger in Gaza, says well being minister

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?