Press
A Russian propaganda campaign is causing a stir. Apparently Putin is using a network to lure “Russian Germans” into the Ukraine war.
Moscow/Berlin – At the front Russia For several weeks, the Ukrainian troops have been gaining ground, and the Ukrainian troops are increasingly under pressure, particularly in the Kharkiv area. The military successes are being achieved at the expense of numerous Russian losses; but it is a price that Wladimir Putin willingly pays – also because Moscow keeps coming up with plans that are supposed to guarantee a supply of personnel. Now the Kremlin is even said to be planning to bring Russians of German origin into the country Ukraine war to trick into.
Propaganda campaign in Russia: wooing people of German descent
A report from the Kyiv Post According to reports, Russia has launched a new propaganda campaign aimed at recruiting Russians with German roots. Organizations should distribute leaflets that show not only the Russian but also the German flag. Young men would also be asked to donate to the Russian army. In addition, people are invited to free pro-war concerts or to take part in seminars on “patriotic education”. However, this approach does not take place in Germany, but in cities that have many so-called “Russian Germans”, such as Tomsk and Novosibirsk.
In total, it is estimated that there are around 400,000 Russian-Germans living in Russia, many of whose ancestors came to the country in the 18th century during the reign of Catherine the Great. During the Soviet era, however, those of German descent were discriminated against and persecuted; After the collapse of the USSR, thousands of them returned to Germany, but still consider themselves Russians.
Propaganda campaign in Tatarstan: Founder calls on Russian Germans to register with Wagner Group
The founder of the “Russian-German House” of the Tatarstan region is said to have repeatedly called on young members to register with the Wagner group and prove “that they are not cowards” like them Kyiv Post writes. “The Russian Germans should do something unusual, something extraordinary in order to be saved and to survive. I have advised the entire male population of our people to join the Wagner Group to promote – as a team, in an organized way,” the 74-year-old told the newspaper Realne Vremya.
According to reports, the propaganda campaign was first uncovered by the Society of Germans in Zaporizhia, a group in the Ukraine living ethnic Germans. To this end, the group wrote to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Putin’s recruiting strategy: Ethnic minorities in the military’s sights – including Russian Germans?
Some observers are of the opinion that this propaganda is also intended to humiliate Germany. Berlin has had to struggle with espionage within its own country in recent months; for example with a conspiracy in Bavaria to blow up military installations that support Ukraine. One of the accused is even strongly suspected of having joined the “Donetsk People’s Republic” as a fighter, which is classified as a terrorist organization. Also plans of the “Reich Citizens” around Henry XIII. Prince Reuss envisaged to ask Vladimir Putin for support in their attempted coup.
According to a report by The Telegraph German society in Zaporizhzhia is concerned that Germans from Russia would serve as “cannon fodder” – even though many of them are against the war in the neighboring country. However, this is currently not considered a reason for asylum in Germany. Members of the ethnic minority who want to avoid immigration are therefore forced to relocate abroad, for example to Georgia.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Putin has largely avoided recruiting men from Moscow, St. Petersburg and the more privileged middle and upper classes. Instead, the military focused primarily on ethnic minorities such as Buryats from southeast Siberia and Chechens.
![Russian soldiers march during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow to mark the 79th anniversary of the end of World War II.](https://www.merkur.de/assets/images/34/632/34632658-russische-soldaten-marschieren-waehrend-der-militaerparade-zum-tag-des-sieges-in-moskau-anlaesslich-des-79-jahrestages-des-endes-des-zweiten-2pma5diLWCBG.jpg)
German extremists are fighting in Ukraine: Federal Ministry of the Interior reveals figures
By July 2023 alone, dozens of extremists from Germany had traveled to Ukraine to fight the war. The Federal Ministry of the Interior announced this at the time at the request of World on Sunday In total, security authorities have registered the departure of 61 people “who have a connection to extremism or politically motivated crime,” the newspaper quoted the ministry as saying.
For 39 people, there is actual evidence that they left the country “with the intention of taking part in hostilities.” Of these, 27 are pro-Russian and twelve pro-Ukrainian.
The authorities have concrete information that the vast majority of this group of people have taken part in combat. These include both right-wing and left-wing extremists. However, the authorities classify most of the people as belonging to the “foreign ideology” phenomenon. A breakdown into specific groups is not possible due to a lack of data, according to the ministry. (nak)
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