The Russian Civic Council, an organization composed of Russian exiles residing in Poland, has announced plans to establish the Siberian Battalion, a military unit dedicated to supporting the

Ukrainian army and opposing Vladimir Putin's regime.

Formed in November 2022, the Russian Civic Council has been actively recruiting members for armed resistance while advocating for significant political reforms in Russia.

Initially, the organization contributed soldiers to the Russian Volunteer Corps, integrating them into the Ukrainian Armed Forces' national units.

However, the focus has now shifted towards creating a new entity, the Siberian Battalion, as reported by Polish Radio's IAR news agency on Wednesday.

According to Tatiana Kosinova, Secretary of the Civic Council, approximately 60 individuals have enlisted in the Siberian Battalion so far. She explained that not all recruits are currently engaged in combat, with some still undergoing military training.

Kosinova emphasized the importance of Russian expatriates taking tangible action beyond verbal support. She argued that peaceful protests alone would not be sufficient to dismantle Putin's regime and that armed resistance was necessary for effecting real change.

"It will not be possible to overthrow Vladimir Putin's regime with peaceful protests but only with arms in hand," she stated, underscoring the urgency of direct intervention. Photo by Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Wikimedia commons.