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Russia Organizes Lessons for School Children Led by Notorious Russian Neo-Nazi War Criminal
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian militant Alexei Miltchakov, known for his neo-Nazi ideology and suspected war crimes in Ukraine, recently gave a government-endorsed “lesson in courage” to students at a middle school in Saint Petersburg, according to Le Monde.
The appearance is part of a broader educational initiative, but Miltchakov’s history of violence and public extremism raises questions about the message being promoted in Russian schools.
Miltchakov is the commander of Rusich, a far-right paramilitary group fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. He has gained notoriety for posting photos of himself with dead Ukrainian soldiers in mocking poses. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Rusich has openly disregarded international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.
In September 2022, Miltchakov used his Telegram channel to publish what he called “instructions on the treatment of prisoners of war from the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” which included recommendations for torture and execution. Later that year, Rusich promised rewards for photos showing executed Ukrainian soldiers.
According to Le Monde, Miltchakov is accused by Ukrainian authorities of mutilating prisoners of war—specifically cutting off their ears and fingers—and sharing images of these acts on social media. Both Miltchakov and the Rusich unit are subject to international sanctions by the European Union, the United States, and other countries.
Despite these allegations, the educational event involving Miltchakov went unreported by Russian state-aligned media.
However, it was strongly criticized by independent Russian-language media outlets in exile. In response, Rusich’s Telegram channel defended the program, stating: “The whore writhes—meaning we’re doing everything right. Lessons in courage in schools will be given relentlessly by Rusich fighters.”
The event reportedly took place six months prior to its disclosure, with images blurred to conceal student identities. This delay and partial anonymity suggest continued sensitivity around Miltchakov’s public role.
The timing of the disclosure may also be significant. Four days earlier, the death of another neo-Nazi commander, Stanislav Orlov—also known as “The Spaniard”—was reported.
According to ultranationalist Telegram channels, Orlov was killed by Russian police during an attempted arrest in occupied Crimea. He was suspected of arms trafficking. Russian outlet RTVI confirmed the police operation, but Le Monde notes that Orlov’s death has also been interpreted as a deliberate elimination of an inconvenient figure.
Earlier, the Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, fighting alongside Russian forces, announced a photo contest encouraging the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war, offering cryptocurrency rewards for images taken with killed POWs.
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