In the wake of Kyiv’s establishment of the ‘International Legion,’ a coalition of volunteers from the post-Soviet space has emerged, united in their fervent opposition to Russian forces. These volunteer battalions, marked by the convergence of Islam and ethnonationalism, warrants careful consideration due to its potential implications. This project examines the affiliations of North Caucasians within the volunteer battalions in the Ukraine conflict, some of whom have ties to terrorist organisations in the Middle East and the North Caucasus. Such confluences of factors give rise to legitimate concerns about the stability of Russia and Ukraine, thereby posing a substantial threat to broader European security. Notably, the 2021 Ukrainian presidential decree offering citizenship to those who fought against Russian forces introduces a complex dimension, potentially facilitating the unhindered movement of North Caucasian volunteers within European territories. This proximity, coupled with their associations with jihadist militants and extremist Islamic preachers, significantly heightens the risk of radicalisation. For the Russian Federation, countering these battalions and foreign fighters is essential to guarantee stability and security in its territory, especially in the North Caucasus, a region which has experienced local militancy and terrorist activities. In addition, in the event of dissatisfaction with the positions of Brussels and Kiev on the Middle East and the Arab-Muslim world, there exists a palpable risk that these individuals may orchestrate violent attacks in both Ukraine and Europe.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which began in 2022, attracted the attention of volunteers from all over the post-Soviet space interested in supporting Kyiv in the fight against Russian forces. Among these volunteers, there are also Azerbaijani fighters who have sided with Ukrainian forces against the Russian armed forces.
The presence of North Caucasian volunteer fighters within the international legion in Ukraine presents a complex dynamic with implications for the broader regional and geopolitical landscape. Notably, their vocal expressions of solidarity with Palestine and criticism of Kyiv’s support for Israel underscore a nuanced discord within the Ukrainian conflict theatre
The establishment of the Dagestan National Centre in Russia and the Dagestan Volunteer Battalion ‘Imam Shamil’ in Ukraine underscores the reverberations of the Ukraine conflict in the North Caucasus. This development highlights a substantial threat emanating from various movements and organisations, advocating for the destabilisation and fragmentation of the Russian Federation.
The presence of the Musul'manskij korpus "Kavkaz" in the Ukraine conflict stressed the significant role that volunteer battalions have in supporting Kyiv and fighting against the Russian Federation, which they consider an imminent threat to the Ukrainian territory and the Muslim umma.
La presenza di foreign fighters e battaglioni di volontari in Ucraina accresce il rischio geopolitico dello scacchiere strategico eurasiatico essendo questi attori non statali impegnati attualmente nel combattere le forze armate russe e al contempo collegati direttamente o indirettamente con membri della diaspora o della militanza armata-jihadista che negli ultimi anni hanno operato nello spazio post-sovietico e in Medio Oriente.
The creation of the Turan Battalion confirmed that the Ukraine conflict had become the perfect battleground for international fighters and contractors united by the desire to fight against the Russian Federation and promote their ideologies and goals.
On June 24th, 2022, SpecialEurasia, in cooperation with Criminalità e Giustizia, CISINT, Cesintel, IPA, ADR 360 and CCMN, organised an online webinar to present the book "Conflict in Ukraine: geopolitical risk, jihadist propaganda and threat for Europe".
Il libro "Conflitto in Ucraina: rischio geopolitico, propaganda jihadista e minaccia per l'Europa" pubblicato da Enigma Edizioni è nato da un progetto di SpecialEurasia con l'obiettivo di analizzare il rischio geopolitico derivante dalla propaganda jihadista e dalla presenza dei foreign fighters nel conflitto ucraino e le possibili ripercussioni per il continente europeo.
Since several Muslim soldiers are fighting in Ukraine among the ranks of the Russian troops, there is considerable debate and propaganda if they can be considered 'mujahideen' who fight in 'the path of Allah' or ‘disbelievers’.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, several foreign fighters from different countries are fighting in Ukraine to support Kyiv's Government. On the other hand, Middle Eastern newspapers reported that Syrian and Iranian fighters might arrive in Ukraine to fight among the Kremlin's ranks.
The Ukraine conflict has attracted the attention of foreign fighters eager to fight against the Russian troops and the Chechen kadyrovtsy. If the war lasts longer than Moscow planned, there is a severe threat that Ukraine might evolve into a battleground where foreign fighters will promote terrorism and jihadist propaganda.
The Chechen kadyrovtsy might have been deployed in Ukraine to support the Russian troops. This news caused the reaction of the Caucasus Emirate and underlined the important role that Chechnya plays in the Kremlin's foreign policy and military strategy.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which has just begun, could also have implications in the sphere of the operations and propaganda of the Salafist-jihadist organisations.