There are about 35,000 armed Russian Guard forces in occupied Ukraine - National Resistance Center

The National Resistance Center reported.

"The Rosguard (Russian National Guard - ed.), after the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, is the second most important component of the occupying forces of the Russian Federation. Members of this formation perform the role of rear-guard units to suppress civil resistance. Their duties include carrying out filtering activities among the civilian population and identifying members of the underground movement," the statement said. 

The Center noted that among the 35,000 Russian Guard soldiers, half are regular formations, which are structured into a brigade, 5 battalion tactical groups and 44 tactical groups. The rest are more than 100 consolidated units that are brought in from Russia on a rotational basis. The consolidated units are formed from OMON and SOBR officers (Russia's rapid-reaction and rapid-insertion military force).

According to the National Resistance Center, these units, in addition to service vehicles and armored vehicles, are also equipped with tanks, artillery systems, and helicopters. They employ these weapons against those who oppose the Russian occupation.

In addition, the National Resistance Center adds that these Russian army units were involved in guarding the so-called polling stations in the Russian-occupied territories during the sham referendum in September 2022 and the sham elections in September 2023.

"Along with the fact that, in general, these units are responsible for the preservation of Putin’s ruling regime and his entourage on the territory of the Russian Federation itself, it can be argued that Putin’s Rosguard is the Russian analogue of the Gestapo of the times of the Third Reich. Undoubtedly, it is the employees of the Russian Guard who will exert pressure on the civilian population in the process of preparing for the 'elections' of the President of the Russian Federation, which are scheduled for March 2024," the Ukrainian resistance emphasizes.

They add that in addition to conducting actual combat operations against the civilian population, Russian Guard officers are actively involved in propaganda activities in educational institutions. They also play the role of projecting power by constantly patrolling settlements in armored combat vehicles and in full gear.

• According to British intelligence, the Russian Guard is strengthening its resources and personnel amid the upheaval in Russia's internal security caused by the war against Ukraine.