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Warning: This article contains discriminatory language and descriptions of violence.
Birthday celebration turns violent as masked assailants storm nightclub
Katya's 30th birthday gathering in Arkhangelsk descended into chaos last year when members of the nationalist group Russkaya Obshina, accompanied by police, forced their way into the venue. Witnesses described a scene of verbal abuse and physical assault, with attackers using slurs against LGBTQ+ attendees.
Katya, a local event organizer known for hosting alternative parties, told the BBC that her mother was forced to kneel while assailants shouted homophobic insults. The group claimed to be searching for evidence of LGBTQ+ "propaganda," which is criminalized under Russian law. Though no such evidence was found, Katya was later interrogated by law enforcement.
"They called us faggots and lesbians. I could hear violence from every corner."
Katya, victim of the raid
Blasphemy conviction follows despite lack of evidence
Nine months after the raid, Katya was convicted of blasphemy due to a neon crucifix-shaped light fixture in the nightclub. A Russkaya Obshina member testified in court that the sight of the cross caused him "emotional shock." She received a sentence of 200 hours of community service.
Since the trial, Katya has faced relentless online harassment fueled by local media coverage and the group's social media posts. Despite the risks, she shared her story with the BBC to highlight the group's growing influence.
Russkaya Obshina's expanding reach and Kremlin ties
Russkaya Obshina has rapidly expanded its operations over the past two years, conducting raids on nightclubs, abortion clinics, migrant workplaces, and hostels. BBC analysis of over 21,000 social media posts from 2020-2025 revealed more than 900 raids, with law enforcement participating in roughly a third of them. The group's activities often target migrants, with one in four posts featuring racist language.
Former members describe the group as a highly motivated network of nationalist and religious Russians who patrol cities to enforce what they perceive as "traditional values." Dimitry, a former soldier wounded in Ukraine, compared the group's role to "antibodies" defending Russia from "foreign intrusion."
"Russkaya Obshina responds like an antibody, stopping [migrants] from harming the organism. You could say it's like a kind of doctor."
Dimitry, former member of Russkaya Obshina
Financial backing and political alliances
The Russian Orthodox Church, a key Kremlin ally, formally endorsed partnerships with Russkaya Obshina in 2025, solidifying ties that had already existed. Analysts suggest the group operates with implicit state approval, particularly as Putin's government has intensified its crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights and Western liberalism since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Documents reviewed by the BBC indicate the group receives funding from influential figures, including sugar magnate Igor Khudokormov, whose conglomerate, Prodimex, trades extensively with the European Union. A second funder, Sergei Mikheev, denied involvement, calling the documents "fake."
"Do you want a Russian company providing critical materials into the food chain funding the sort of activity he's funding? That's a question governments and companies have to answer."
Tom Keatinge, Royal United Services Institute
Legal gray zone and public support
Despite its collaboration with police, Russkaya Obshina is not registered as an official civilian patrol group. Sergei Ognerubov, who runs a registered patrol in St. Petersburg, criticized the group's unregulated tactics, calling them "petty hooliganism."
Alexander Verkhovsky, a researcher of Russia's far right, argued that the group's intimidation tactics may violate Russian law. "Russkaya Obshina claims to uphold law and order but operates through illegal intimidation," he said.
The Russian embassy in London defended the group, stating its popularity reflects "public interest in national culture" and accused critics of seeking to "discredit our country."
Life upended for victims
For Katya, the raid and subsequent trial have disrupted a decade of work organizing events. After completing her community service-cleaning hospital floors-she described the ordeal as losing a part of herself.
"For 10 years, I lived in a certain rhythm. It made me happy, it was my life. What do you feel when a part of you is taken away? You feel loss."
Katya
