The Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) is a military-political organization of Russian volunteers, mainly Russian citizens living in Ukraine. According to its website, members have fought alongside Ukraine since 2014 and joined its defense after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The organization says its forces have participated in combat in several Ukrainian regions, as well as in Russia’s Bryansk and Belgorod regions.

It describes its members as holding conservative and traditionalist views. Its stated goals include restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its 1991 borders and changing the current regime in Russia. The RDK website serves as an information and support platform, with sections about the organization, its publications, and how to join or provide assistance.

It says applicants with strong physical and psychological fitness, military service, or combat experience are preferred. The site also solicits financial and volunteer support, explaining that equipment, vehicles, and ongoing supplies require funding. It notes that the corps does not receive continuous state support and relies on personal and volunteer contributions