The Knights of New Russia
The shadowy world of Russia's radical nationalists fighting in eastern Ukraine for Novorossiya, or New Russia, and a dream of empires past.
Russian support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine does not all come directly from the Kremlin. The rebellion there may be stoked, and armed, by Vladimir Putin - but it has also become a personal cause for young Russian volunteers recruited by a variety of nationalist and far-right groups. Many say they are motivated by their Orthodox faith - and their dream to restore Novorossiya, or New Russia, the territory which encompassed eastern Ukraine under the Tsarist Empire. Passionate members of re-enactment societies, they have spent their weekends reliving Russia's historic battles. But now they are fighting - and sometimes dying - for real, in what they see as a test of their own, and Russia's 'manhood'.
Tim Whewell has gained rare access to the weird, shadowy world of Russia's radical nationalists. He travels with volunteers from the grand old imperial capital, St Petersburg, to the chaotic, muddy battlefields of eastern Ukraine - and reveals a movement whose leaders have become increasingly influential in Putin's Russia - but is now in danger of becoming an embarrassment to the Kremlin.
(Photo: Russian volunteer rebel fighters patrolling Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. 91热爆 copyright)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Clip
-
The Knights of New Russia
Duration: 04:28
Broadcasts
- Thu 18 Dec 2014 02:32GMT91热爆 World Service Online
- Thu 18 Dec 2014 16:32GMT91热爆 World Service Online
- Thu 18 Dec 2014 20:32GMT91热爆 World Service Online
- Sun 21 Dec 2014 10:05GMT91热爆 World Service Online
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes