Armed opposition in wartime Russia: the Russian Volunteer Corps

This article examines the conceptual and emblematic positioning of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) within the context of current Russian opposition. Specifically, it explores the discursive stances the RVC adopts on issues related to the Russian statehood, resistance strategies to the regime, and the interests of the actors involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Guided by the topical matrix of public discourse on the Russian-Ukrainian war proposed by Galyamina (2024), the study assesses the RVC’s positioning on several fundamental issues: the disintegration versus preservation of the Russian Federation, military struggle versus a mixed approach of violent and non-violent protest, alignment with Russian versus Ukrainian interests, and the focus on ethnic versus civic Russian identity. Using qualitative content analysis of the RVC’s official communication, the article draws on primary data from June 2022 to August 2024 to explore how the organization frames these critical issues. The findings reveal that the political wing of the RVC does not establish an inclusive or comprehensive political platform, suggesting an ideologically selective opposition discourse. This analysis provides insight into the RVC’s role within broader Russian opposition movements and its influence on the political landscape of the ongoing conflict.