In Ukraine, French Neo-Nazis and Ex-Military Personnel Enlist to Fight Against Russia

Translation from French by Deepseek: In Ukraine, French Neo-Nazis and Ex-Military Personnel Enlist to Fight Against Russia StreetPress — Reading time: 9 minutes

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About twenty men, armed and in uniform, pose around an armored vehicle. The photo, published on a neo-Nazi Instagram account in September 2025, allegedly shows a group of French volunteers fighting in Ukraine. Although the faces are blurred, several have shared it, visibly proud of their involvement. Alongside emojis representing the French and Ukrainian flags, one of them comments: "Einsatzgruppen." The name given by Nazi Germany to the units responsible for exterminating Jews, Roma, and political opponents on the Eastern Front during World War II. The author of this reference to the Holocaust by bullets is Gwendal D. (1), known by the pseudonym "Kenneth" and featured in several press articles. With swastika and SS emblem tattoos, this neo-Nazi from Lyon arrived in Ukraine as early as 2022 before being joined, in the spring of 2023, by two other Frenchmen. They include far-right hooligan César Aujard, suspected of participating in the assault of a parliamentary assistant from La France Insoumise (LFI), and a member of the Groupe Union Défense who previously served in the Foreign Legion.

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Neo-Nazi Gwendal D. joined Ukraine as early as 2022. In a photo he reposted on Instagram, he compares the volunteer group to the "Einsatzgruppen," the Nazi units responsible for exterminating Jews. / Credits: DR

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French neo-Nazis fighting in Ukraine are actively recruiting and have formed their own unit, "Légion Pirates." Their logo is inspired by the Totenkopf, an emblem used by SS units during World War II, accompanied by three fleurs-de-lis. / Credits: DR

The presence of French neo-Nazis fighting alongside Kyiv against the Russian invader is not new. According to our information, this group significantly strengthened its ranks in 2025 and continues to actively recruit. To the extent of forming its own unit. Initially named "War Agressive" and later "Légion Pirates," it is attached to the "Revanche" battalion, a Ukrainian formation linked to the ultranationalist Orthodox party "Order and Tradition." A true "fascist battalion," according to a Frenchman who joined it.

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Initially named "War Agressive," the "Légion Pirates" is attached to the "Revanche" battalion, a Ukrainian formation linked to the ultranationalist Orthodox party "Order and Tradition." / Credits: DR

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"Revanche" is a true "fascist battalion," according to a Frenchman who joined it. / Credits: DR

The New Faces The involvement of these French neo-Nazis in Ukraine and their on-the-ground structuring has the effect of creating a pipeline for potential recruits. In recent months, recruitment calls have multiplied on the social media accounts of "Légion Pirates" members. On paper, the unit is attached to the GUR, the Ukrainian military intelligence. This allows them to boast about being part of the local army's "special forces." In reality, it is difficult to learn more about the actual nature of their deployment. According to the soldiers, they primarily carry out "reconnaissance" missions.

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One of the former French military personnel, who served in the 13th Alpine Hunter Battalion, goes by the name "Charlemagne," a reference to a Waffen-SS division composed of French volunteers during World War II. / Credits: DR

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Since arriving in Ukraine, "Charlemagne" has had a swastika tattooed on his chest and displays the same symbol on his uniform. / Credits: DR

Among these newly enlisted recruits serving the Ukrainian cause, some are former military personnel who served in the French army, such as Ylian F. (1), formerly of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP). Others are self-proclaimed neo-Nazis like "Malo," who displays an SS emblem on his helmet.

Several combine both lines on their CV. This is the case for the individual calling himself "Charlemagne" (1), a reference to the King of the Franks and Carolingian Emperor, also used by the Waffen-SS unit composed of French volunteers during World War II. Having served in the 13th Alpine Hunter Battalion, based near Chambéry, he had a swastika tattooed on his pectoral since arriving in Ukraine in the summer of 2025. The same goes for "Roque," who served in the Foreign Legion and wears swastikas and SS emblems on his uniform in Ukraine.

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On the uniforms of several fighters, like César Aujard, the emblem of the Third Reich's eagle sometimes appears. The far-right volunteers only replaced the swastika with Ukraine's trident. / Credits: DR

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The French volunteer who goes by "Roque," who served in the Foreign Legion, wears swastikas and SS emblems on his uniform in Ukraine. / Credits: DR

When questioned about these cases, the Ministry of the Armed Forces declined to comment on individuals and simply confirmed that they "no longer serve in the French army."

A Former GUD Member Convicted Another profile identified by StreetPress is "Malo." This is Gwendal Cohin-Pourajaud, convicted for his participation in the violence during Éric Zemmour's rally in December 2021 in Villepinte (93). Aged 18 at the time, he assaulted and threw chairs at SOS Racisme activists who had come to denounce the xenophobia of the then presidential candidate. During the search, investigators found at his home a flag linked to the Ukrainian far right. His teenage room was covered with posters of the National Front, the Génération Identitaire group, and the Pétainist organization Les Nationalistes.

ALSO READ (in 2024): Violence at Zemmour Rally Against SOS Racisme: Zouaves Paris Members in Court

In front of investigators, he expressed his wish to join the French army and mentioned having made an appointment with a recruitment center. His indictment thwarted his plans. Having been part of the Zouaves Paris group and then the GUD, he headed to Ukraine in the summer of 2025, precisely to join the "Légion Pirates." Contacted by StreetPress, he declared himself "proud to defend the interests of the Ukrainian people and fight against the communism rampant in the East."

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During the search at Gwendal Cohin-Pourajaud's home, police discovered a teenager's room covered with posters of the National Front and the Pétainist Les Nationalistes. / Credits: DR

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In Gwendal Cohin-Pourajaud's room, the walls were also covered with a "flag of the 2nd SS Division Das Reich," according to investigators, a French flag adorned with a Celtic cross, a GI flag, and a Confederate flag. / Credits: DR

The Question of Return All these profiles eventually raise the question of a potential return to mainland France and the threat they could pose, armed with experience in handling weapons and combat. When questioned, the Ministry of the Interior (2) confirms paying "particular attention" to these individuals "likely […] to constitute a threat to internal security."

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Several French volunteers fighting in Ukraine pose with a flag bearing a swastika. / Credits: DR

As early as March 2022, barely a month after the start of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, Mediapart revealed the concerns of French authorities on this matter and their fear of a scenario similar to that caused by the war in Syria. At the time, intelligence services had already counted 150 French nationals on the ground, about thirty of whom were from the radical far right—what the services call the "ultra-right." In April 2023, two French neo-Nazis were arrested in Paris upon returning from the Ukrainian front, with rifle magazines and classified "weapons of war" sights in their possession. After a brief stay in prison, both returned to Ukraine and are reportedly still there today.

ALSO READ (in 2024): Nazi Flags, Celtic Crosses, and Smoke Bombs: The Polish Holidays of French Neo-Fascists

The relative proximity between France and Ukraine, as well as the freedom of movement within the Schengen Area, indeed offer the possibility for some of these French neo-Nazis to make round trips. Kenneth thus returned to France for a few months between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, then was spotted in Poland in November 2024 and November 2025 during the "March for Independence," a nationalist event increasingly popular with the French far right. As for Gwendal Cohin-Pourajaud, StreetPress was surprised to see him heading the security service for an annual identitarian parade in mid-January in central Paris.

Threats Towards the French Left According to his social media posts, Roque also temporarily returned to France to recharge near Toulon in May 2025. Barely two months earlier, from Ukraine, he posted two Instagram stories showing his cardboard shooting targets—which raises questions about the risks of a potential return to France. On one of them were inscribed the acronyms of the French Communist Party, the New Popular Front, and La France Insoumise. On the other, the name of Clément Méric, an anti-fascist activist killed in 2013 in Paris by a far-right militant. Contacted by StreetPress, he refused to answer our questions.

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French neo-Nazi "Roque" practiced shooting at a target marked with the acronyms of the French Communist Party, the New Popular Front, and La France Insoumise. / Credits: DR

These images recall those revealed at the end of 2021 by StreetPress and Mediapart, which showed supporters of Éric Zemmour practicing shooting at racist caricatures of Jews, Black people, and Muslims, as well as LFI elected officials and/or the President of the Republic. Indeed, before going to fight in Ukraine, the same Roque attended Éric Zemmour's rallies in Toulon (83) and at the Trocadéro in March 2022.

The "Légion Pirates" is not the only hardcore group of French neo-Nazis in Ukraine. Although more discreet, another group claiming to be a "French Volunteers Legion" (LVF) has also taken up arms there. A name echoing the one "against Bolshevism" raised during World War II by collaborationist parties for the Eastern Front. In its 21st-century version, the LVF includes in its ranks former French military personnel who continue to wear uniforms in the colors of their former employer. In the summer of 2025, it was likely in this attire that a group member was killed in combat. He went by the pseudonym "Kapo"—the title given to men responsible for overseeing prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.

(1) Contacted, Ylian F. confirmed having been in the military with the 2e REP and stated he joined the "Légion Pirates" for its effectiveness on the ground. For his part, in response to our questions, Charlemagne sent us a neo-Nazi diatribe concluded with a "Sieg Heil." Regarding his service with the 13th BCA, he mentioned "erroneous information," despite confirmation from the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Kenneth, for his part, refused to answer our questions.

(2) Questioned by StreetPress about the number of French nationals who have joined Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022 and their motivations, the Ministry of the Interior did not provide figures and indicated that "the majority of the profiles concerned joined the conflict for personal reasons. Therefore, no correlation can be drawn between ideological commitment, particularly to the ultra-right, and engagement in the armed forces of both sides." However, it mentions that a "small number of individuals did indeed go to the area for ideological reasons to join units whose reputation was that of combat groups inspired by neo-Nazism."

Cover illustration by Caroline Varon.

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