The Varyag Battalion (батальона “Варяг”) is a (Pro-Russia) Volunteer Battallion formed as part of the Pro-Russia revolt in Donbas, the group claimed to be fighting for a new Russian Empire founded on Orthodox religious doctrine:

Volunteers like Pavel deny that they came to Ukraine on orders or for money. They say they came to the east of Ukraine to restore the Russian Empire, professing Orthodoxy and including Ukraine and Belarus.

“Why do I say that Donetsk is Jerusalem? Because what is happening here is a holy war of the Russian people for their future, for their ideals, for their children and for their great country, which was divided into parts 25 years ago, divided in a lively way, not only the country, but also the people. And what is happening now is the restoration of historical justice … we are one nation, and we are fighting for ourselves, “says Pavel.”

“The separatists share the Kremlin’s distaste for Western liberal values ​​and favor strong authoritarian rule. At the same time, many Russian nationalists support the monarchy and dream of turning back the clock to pre-revolutionary Russia. Their main slogan is “autocracy, orthodoxy, nationality”, and the president, a former employee of the Soviet special services, is in the background.

The battalion is 1 of 6 groups described by Rusich Group as the Right Wing detatchments guarding the “Russian Spring” (a Pro-Russian term for the seperatist groups) https://m.vk.com/wall-217053505_505?lang=en alongside the Russian Imperial Legion, Russian National Unity, “Russian All-Military Union” and “Legion of St Stephen” https://m.vk.com/wall-217053505_505?lang=en (see Rusich page for further details)

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