We are publishing a translation of an article critical of pseudo-anarchists who call for support for participation in the war on the side of the Ukrainian state. It was published in the German anarchist anti-militarist newspaper Graswurzelrevolution. ---- Volunteer for war for the nation and democracy? The split among anarchists on the issue of war is growing. ---- A text circulating online since November clearly demonstrates how deep the gap has become between individuals, organizations, and media outlets that call themselves "anarchists." "Towards the Suppression of Eastern European Voices at Anarchist Events in the EU" reads the title of the complaint, written by the Solidarity Collectives and signed by numerous groups, collectives, and individuals. The list of signatures under the English-language version is longer and includes, among others, the Frankfurt FAU, the French CNTF, and such renowned authors as Peter Gelderloos and Philippe Kellermann.
The text complains that the anarchist milieu accuses those who voluntarily fight in the war with weapons in hand of "supporting the war." The following conclusions are drawn from this: "In recent years, numerous organizations and groups have emerged within the anarchist milieu that actively exclude the Solidarity Collectives, ABC-Belarus, and many other anarchist and anti-authoritarian organizations from public events or block their participation. Furthermore, numerous "statements" have been published condemning the work of these groups and their support for the Ukrainian resistance against the Russian invasion. This behavior is often based on a distortion of the positions held by activists from Eastern Europe on the war. Anarchists are accused of becoming militarists, supporting the war, or being insufficiently critical of the Ukrainian state."
The very surprise that anyone could impede support for Ukrainian nationalism against Russian nationalism is striking. Clearly, there has been no consensus in contemporary anarchism regarding what constitutes states and nations. The text not only euphemistically refers to "Ukrainian resistance against Russian invasion" (and what else is war? One state attacks, another counters with military force), but also glosses over the fact that as recently as August 2025, the "Solidarity Collectives" attempted to disrupt an event by the Kharkiv-based "Assembly" collective. In a statement issued in connection with this, the "Solidarity Collectives" and their supporters were convincingly characterized as what they are-"anarcho-militarists" ( https://communaut.org/de/von-winnyzja-bis-berlin ).
Aren't deserters and opponents of military service (from all warring parties) and all those who refuse to die or kill for either side in this war "Eastern European voices"? Or is the identity card only played when it comes to positions that fit into one's own worldview? Or is memory so short that no one can remember the rather unceremonious treatment of consistent opponents of the war in Saint-Imier? ( https://www.graswurzel.net/gwr/2023/09/ueber-militarisierung-ukrainesolidaritaet-und-luegengebaeude/ )
"We do not see any support for war or state militarism in any form in the work of the Solidarity Collectives and the ABC-Belarus," the text continues. "Furthermore, we categorically condemn any attempt to isolate anarchist collectives from Eastern Europe on the issue of resistance against the military expansion of the Russian regime."
On the one hand, this is untrue, and on the other, it contradicts what is subsequently asserted in the same breath. Anyone who was at the "Marches of the[Russian]Opposition" in Berlin in November 2024 ( https://knack.news/11396 ) and in December 2025 could have seen the "anarchist bloc" that demanded arms supplies to Ukraine (https://www.woz.ch/2447/russische-opposition/fuer-ein-ende-des-imperiums/!9X2WQR4WY911). It is clear that a military victory over Russia requires ever more weapons production, weapons supplies, and the use of weapons. And above all, ever more people are needed who will allow themselves to be senselessly destroyed in the struggle between various capitalist states. With anarchist, feminist, socialist, religious, liberal, conservative, or fascist justifications. It doesn't matter in the end, the main thing is that they are armed, trained and available for combat.
Anyone seeking a military victory over Putin shouldn't be interested in their comrades from right-wing volunteer units being killed in battle: it reduces their own firepower. For anyone on the Russian side who believes they are fighting "against fascism," it's equally unthinkable to even consider neutralizing "private military companies" or the Rusich group. Where national sovereignty is at stake, political camps instantly close ranks. War is a national matter, and citizens of the state must not place their special interests or party preferences above it. And you are participating in this.
Perhaps the "anarchists" who go to war as part of the Ukrainian army convince themselves that they are fighting and killing not for the state, but for the people. But that doesn't make things any better. "The people" is a coercive community. The Ukrainian people exist because the Ukrainian state exists, not the other way around. The same applies to Russians, Belarusians, and any other "people," however defined-by origin, language, culture, or citizenship.
As long as capitalism exists as a global system, there will be countries like Sudan and Syria, Ukraine and Armenia, Greece and Bolivia. We cannot approach the world everywhere as we do in rich countries. The way the European Union and NATO, Russia and China treat countries like Ukraine is clear: the local population, the land, and everything that grows on it or can be extracted from it must be at the service of increasing capital's wealth. It is unclear which capital-Russian or German, American or Chinese-will subsequently show interest in this or will believe that all this can be obtained more cheaply in another sovereign state. It is clear that countries with strong economies are increasingly interested in areas beyond their own borders for their own economic growth. The entire world of sovereign states must provide markets, production sites, and investment opportunities for their capital. This is where the interests of states converge. Capitalist growth is unthinkable without violence between states. Unless we reach theoretical agreement on this issue, joint practice is impossible and pointless. Anyone who is outraged by Putin's violence against Ukraine but fails to recognize that the dictates of austerity are also violence has understood nothing about capitalist domination. Anyone who believes that Russia's imperial aspirations must be stopped while simultaneously accepting the subordination of the world to the interests of democratically governed capitalist states as the norm is no better than someone who attributes something "anti-imperialist" to the imperialism of Russia or China. Those who are willing to "understand Putin" and those who advocate arms sales are two sides of the same coin. Drawing a dividing line between them is not dogmatism. Clearly, the goals pursued here are entirely different.
Organizations like the Belarusian ABC have taken a very clear position. Armed struggle for the "lesser evil" is perceived as providing experience, praised in every possible way, and turned into the main point of demarcation from those who "do nothing in practice." While the state rounds up young men seeking to evade military service, we should focus on the "heroism" of a small group of anarchists, not support deserters and draft dodgers on all sides of the conflict. They know full well that they alone are incapable of resisting an invading army.
At the same time, the Dresden ABC doesn't skimp on propaganda: "You can be Sahra Wagenknecht, who is against the war and for the Russian empire. You can be a Russian soldier who takes up arms against the war in Ukraine, commits genocide, and kills hundreds of innocent people because he believes that peace can only be achieved through the complete annihilation of the Ukrainian people. You can be a Western left-wing intellectual who is against the war because it's written in books, but in reality, for him, social revolution and war are just words devoid of any meaning" (https://abcdd.org/2023/10/24/keine-verwendung-fur-solche-leute-weder-in-den-schutzengraben-noch-im-kampf-fur-eine-andere-welt/) (However, in recent years, we have learned that these simple words can be interpreted differently, depending on what part of the world or political camp people come from).
But why is a nation-state suddenly better than an empire? How do you know that Russia seeks the "total annihilation of the Ukrainian people"? Fighting and killing at the behest of a Ukrainian state that must be reformed to adapt to the global market-what does that have to do with social revolution?
Yes, Alexander Kolchenko, who also signed this appeal, was in a Russian prison. No one can criticize him for opposing Putin's rule. But it's time we seriously discuss the fact that he sang the Ukrainian national anthem and shouted "Glory to Ukraine!" at his trial. "National anarchism" under the Ukrainian or any other national flag is nothing other than solidarity with people suffering because of Russian policies. If you believe that a nation state is a good response to discrimination, we should agree on what exactly "domination" means.
There's also no shortage of Eastern European voices in favor of continuing the war at any cost in the public sphere, including some "anarchist" ones. Maksym Butkevych, who became an anarchist officer in the Ukrainian army, travels across Europe campaigning for arms supplies (https://www.woz.ch/2506/maxim-butkewitsch/dann-macht-man-sich-mitschuldig/!66MN2JPV7AB2). Green Party politician Marina Weisband considers herself "an anarchist at heart," but for her, this means a concrete insistence on war to the bitter end ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpg0KUmgRo ).
Enough. Please don't tell us about "privileges" and "westsplaining" while deserters are being killed at the border in Ukraine (https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article252528332/Ukrainischer-Deserteur-15-Kilometer-vor-Grenze-erschossen.html . ).
Alexander Ametistov
Graswurzelrevolution. 2026. Nr. 506. Februar. S. 21.
https://aitrus.info/node/6362
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Link: (en) Russia, AIT: Military "anarchists" (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]
Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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