The Russian Partisan Movement "Skrepach"[c] (Russian: Российское партизанское движение «СкрепачЪ»), also abbreviated RPD «Skrepach» (Russian: РПД «СкрепачЪ»), is a Russian partisan formation of the armed opposition created in June 2023. It opposes the ruling regime of the Russian Federation, and supports Ukraine in the war. It is a member of the Coalition and the United Front of Resistance.[1] It commits arson and sabotage, conducts agitation, and trains partisans.
Creation, principles, composition
The impetus for the creation of a partisan group was the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Skrepach movement made itself known in June 2023, when the official telegram channel was created. The name was given by the call sign of the founder and leader.
When creating the partisan movement, one of the main ideas was to destroy these damned bonds, to throw them off society. In addition, I graduated from a music school. So it somehow came together.[d]-Skrepach, leader of the movement of the same name[2]
Until the end of 2023, several sabotage actions were carried out, including at military factories.[3] Since 2024, the movement has spread to different regions, up to the Far East.
In the initial period of its activity, the movement used its own financial resources. Then the partisans received stable financial support from sponsors – "representatives of the Russian middle class".[4]
Ideologically, the RPD "Skrepach" adheres to general democratic principles. The priority is the overthrow of the Putin regime, the creation of a free and fair society. "Skrepach" pays great attention to agitation, propaganda of resistance, training and education of personnel.
The total number of the movement has not been announced. Initially, Skrepach was created by a group of like-minded people. They were joined by specialists in various fields - cybersecurity, explosives, work with UAVs. The age composition is also different: there are former participants in the war, there are parents seeking revenge for their sons who died at the front.
Many people who have joined our movement are those who fought at the front in Putin's army yesterday. This is a big plus for us, because they not only have real experience in armed struggle, but also brought from the front tools for carrying out actions, which we pass on to our trained participants, train new members of the movement.[4][e]
Actions
RPD "Skrepach" assumes responsibility for the following actions:
^From the Russian word skripach (Russian: скрипач), literally meaning "violinist"
^Russian: При создании партизанского движения, одна из основных идей была — разрушить эти проклятые скрепы, скинуть их с общества. К тому же я заканчивал музыкальную школу. Вот оно как-то так сошлось воедино.
^Russian: Немало людей, присоединившихся к нашему движению — это те, кто ещё вчера воевали на фронте в путинской армии. Это большой плюс для нас, ведь они обладают не только реальным опытом вооруженной борьбы, но и привезли с фронта инструменты для проведения акций, которые мы передаем нашим подготовленным участникам, обучаем новых членов движения
^A car owned by a supporter of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, decorated with the Russian military's Z symbol
