Russia Deploys Kickboxing and Karate Fighters to Frontlines... "Not Forced"

Training on drone operation completed by January 5
Applicant: "All volunteered without coercion"

Volunteer soldiers composed of Russian martial arts fighters are scheduled to be deployed in the special military operation in Ukraine.

According to the Far East regional media PrimaMedia on the 27th, currently, 100 martial arts fighters affiliated with the Russian Martial Arts Federation are undergoing military training at the special forces university located in Gudermes, Chechen Republic, southwestern Russia.

Among the volunteers from western Moscow, central Republic of Tatarstan, and Far East regions such as Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai, there are athletes who have won numerous awards in international competitions in disciplines like karate and kickboxing, and are well known not only in Russia but also overseas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoying fishing shirtless

The Russian Martial Arts Federation has branches in a total of 79 regions across Russia. According to the media, the volunteers will receive training under instructors with extensive combat experience, including live-fire exercises and drone operation training, until January 5 next year, after which they will be deployed to defend the Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) in eastern Ukraine.

Sergey Uvitsky, who is participating in the training, said, "All those receiving military education volunteered and were not coerced by anyone," adding, "The majority were looking for an opportunity to participate in the special military operation."

Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Administration, who recently visited the training site, explained, "People of various ethnicities that make up our nation, including Russians, Chechens, and Bashkirs, are together in the same trenches to defend the motherland."

Earlier in October, Russia discussed a plan to recruit elite athletes within the country who would volunteer for the special military operation in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, an incident occurred where a Russian Air Force base was attacked by drones, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers. Reuters and other foreign media reported that around 1:35 a.m. local time on the 26th, a Ukrainian drone approaching the Engels Air Force Base in Saratov Oblast was shot down at low altitude.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.