ABSTRACT
The “Swedish” chapter will discuss the pro-Ukraine mobilization of the elements of the Swedish far-right and, just like in the French case, discuss the role of facilitators/trailblazers who because of personal push factors arrived in Ukraine early. Moreover, it will also showcase if not a split but more of a complete reversal of the Swedish far-right milieu away from a pro-Ukraine position toward an unashamedly pro-Russian one. The Nordic Resistance Movement was a leading transnational and not only a Swedish group, aligned itself with the Russian Imperial Movement, an entity which spawned a paramilitary unit fighting on the side of the separatists in the war in Ukraine. Interestingly, this volte face did not undermine the commitment of the Swedish far-right contingent, mostly in the ranks of the Azov Battalion/Regiment, whose members are still present on the front lines. They did, however, face ostracism from their previous comrades upon returning home.
