The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is releasing its latest report Western
Extremists and The Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022, authored by CEP aff





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CEP Report: Western Extremists And The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine In 2022

 

(New York, N.Y.) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is releasing its latest
reportWestern Extremists and The Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022
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, authored by CEP affiliated researcher Dr. Kacper Rekawek, postdoctoral fellow
at the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX), University of Oslo, in
collaboration with a number of regional experts. This is the second CEP report
analyzing extremist foreign fighters in Ukraine.

 

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there has been
significant concern about the phenomenon of foreign fighters of various
extremist ideologies traveling to take part in the conflict. Carefully
examining all the available evidence, this report shows that only a fraction of
the nearly 20,000 foreigners who expressed an interest in joining the war
actually have done so.

 

While some of these foreigners are indeed extremists, the report’s careful
analysis of extreme right-wing scenes across seven countries—the United States,
Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Poland—reveals that the current
conflict has not led to a significant flow of extremists to the war zone.
Rather, it has been, as the report’s subheading puts it:All Talk, But Not A Lot
Of Walk.

 

CEP Affiliated Researcher Dr. Kacper Rekawek said:

 

“This paper demonstrates that widespread reports about extremist foreign
fighters overrunning Ukraine have been largely overplayed. While there is a
notable extremist foreign fighter contingent in the country, their numbers pale
in comparison to those recruited through official government channels and there
is no evidence that extremist causes are flourishing as a result of the
invasion.

 

“Foreigners in Ukraine have not yet coalesced into recognizable highly
ideological fighting units and, as individuals, have been largely unsuccessful
in acting as recruiting multipliers for sympathizers in their home countries.
Units such as the Azov Regiment, with a history of featuring foreigners since
2014, have either recruited a small number of such individuals in 2022, are
nationally focused, and do not advertise for foreigners to join.

 

“Preventing the travel of violence-oriented extremists to the war zone should
nonetheless be a priority for governments. These individuals will not add
significantly to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. However, they may yet
present a challenge to domestic security upon their return.

 

“The combination of a violence-oriented ideology; potential combat training
and experience; access to arms, ammunition, and explosive material in the
conflict zone; as well as improved transnational networking opportunities for
these extremists is worrying and requires mitigation measures.

 

“Governments should begin exploring opportunities for managing returning
violence-oriented extremists from the war zone. Given the currently small
number of high-risk individuals, this should be well within already established
capacities.”

 

To access the report, please click here
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.

 

To read the first report Career Break or a New Career? Extremist Foreign
Fighters in Ukraine, please click here
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.

 

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