Ultras in Kharkiv
Foto: imago images/Ukrainian News
The Russian war of aggression was only a few hours old when Dynamo Kyiv fans on social media called for international resistance: »We are ready to fight. We kill all occupiers who come to our country,” says one post, framed by the Ukrainian national colors. »It is a call to all people of honor: go to the Russian embassy and protest! Go to your government and order them to fight against the common enemy! Ukraine is a shield for Europe.«
Ultras and hooligans from other Ukrainian clubs are also spreading messages online, for example from Metalist Kharkiv or Arsenal Kyiv. They promote joining the Ukrainian military as volunteer fighters. In their photos, they often pose in uniforms, with weapons and club paraphernalia. They distribute videos of soldiers and people fleeing. “The ultra scene reflects a mobilization that can be observed throughout the Ukrainian population,” says journalist Thomas Dudek, who deals with soccer and politics in Eastern Europe. “The only difference is that many Ultras have combat experience.”
As early as 2013/2014, ultras took part in the protests against the then pro-Russian government in Kyiv during the Euromaidan movement. Soon after, pro-Russian separatists proclaimed so-called “people’s republics” in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. The football clubs of that region, Shakhtar Donetsk and Zorya Luhansk, went into exile. A number of their fans joined the army and fought against the Separatists. “Many ultras who didn’t escape in time ended up in prison or were only released later by separatists,” says Thomas Dudek.
Several hooligans in the Azov regiment
Dozens of Ukrainian ultras and hooligans have been fighting for the Azov regiment, one of the paramilitary volunteer battalions, since 2014. The ultra-nationalist group has connections to right-wing extremist movements in Europe, in Germany to the small party »Der III. way« and to the »Identitarians«. German neo-Nazis are now also mobilizing in relevant forums against the “Bolsheviks” Putin, who is being supported by Muslim fighters from Chechnya. Recommendations are also circulating as to how voluntary fighters from western Europe can get to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv via Poland and from there via Kyiv to the front. Around 1,000 foreign fighters are said to have made their way to Ukraine.
The contact details of Ukrainian ultras and liaisons are also given online. “It could also attract Westerners with ideas that are opposed to democratic Ukraine.” As a result of the war in eastern Ukraine since 2014, hundreds of young football fans have experienced fighting and weapons, many are traumatized and radicalized. More than fifty Ultras are said to have been killed before the Russian attack.
Outside of Ukraine, however, many more fans are getting involved in very different ways. Groups in Germany, Poland and Croatia are collecting money and donations in kind for Ukraine. Ultras organize the transport of refugees and provide accommodation. For years, some of them have displayed anti-Putin banners in stadiums. But there are exceptions. In Serbia, the Ultras of the big clubs keep friendships with Moscow: Red Star Belgrade with Spartak Moscow, Partizan Belgrade with CSKA. Recently at the Belgrade clubs’ derby, fans from Moscow were also present. There were also shouts like “Serbia – Russia: brothers forever”, but these statements should not be dramatized, says political scientist Alexander Mennicke, who studies fan cultures in the Balkans: “These shouts are heard at almost every derby, at which the friendly groups are present. So it shouldn’t be interpreted as enthusiasm for war.”
Serbs in a fraternal alliance
The fan groups from Belgrade and Moscow see themselves as a “brotherly alliance,” says Alexander Mennicke, which is why they are now moving closer together. This also became clear last week in the Serbian league game in Vozdovac. Some Red Star Belgrade fans audibly shouted, “Russia, Russia.” This Thursday, the Serbian champions play in the round of 16 of the Europa League at Glasgow Rangers.
Unlike FC Schalke 04, Red Star Belgrade has not yet clearly distanced itself from its jersey sponsor Gazprom. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić maintained relations with the Kremlin for years. This also applies to Milorad Dodik, the Serbian representative in the state presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to research by the investigative media network Birn, Serbian hooligans fought alongside Russia in eastern Ukraine.
What alliances will emerge now? In Russia itself, ultras seem to be reticent about political messages. The researcher Alexander Mennicke came across a graffiti of fans of Zenit St. Petersburg, the message: “Stop the wars between brothers.” When you see how massively protests are being suppressed in Russia, that’s understandable.”
Alexander Mennicke documents the symbolism of the fans on Twitter. For example, a photo apparently showing hooligans from Dinamo Minsk near Kyiv. In doing so, they would oppose the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, a close partner of Putin. In addition to these fight motives, fans also send other messages. It is about war victims, grief and the memory of fallen friends.