Far-Right Base Group Claims Murders in Ukraine Amid Questions Over Russia Ties
Leaked information obtained by the Guardian paints a disturbing picture of violence waged by the Ukrainian cell of the Base, an internationally proscribed terrorist organization with suspected links to Russia. The group is continuing to claim multiple murders in Ukraine, following its connection to the brazen assassination of an intelligence officer in Kyiv over the summer.
Telegram Claims and Violent Operations
In a Telegram post, the Ukrainian cell of the Base—which originated in the United States but has a web of cells worldwide—claimed "a successful operation to eliminate an enemy agent in Odesa" through a car bombing. This incident was later reported in local Ukrainian media. The post inferred that the victim, a border service officer, was assisting Russia in southern Ukraine, stating, "This traitor, whose name we cannot yet disclose in the interests of the investigation, served Ukraine, but his heart was sold to the enemy. This action is just the beginning."
Since April of last year, the Base has been offering money to followers and hired assassins to carry out killings of military and government officials in Ukraine. This coincides with allegations that its American founder, Rinaldo Nazzaro, was a Kremlin spy. Nazzaro, a former Pentagon contractor and Department of Homeland Security worker, has not responded to recent requests for comment but has previously maintained he does not control the Ukrainian cell and said last year that it is "not directed by the Russian government." He has steadfastly denied allegations of coordinating with Russian intelligence services and its sabotage operations across Europe.
Expert Analysis and Leaked Evidence
Despite these denials, experts in counter-terrorism have long described how the Base's connections to Russia are not easily dismissed. Joshua Fisher-Birch, an extremism analyst at the Counter Extremism Project, noted, "The assassination claim from the Base's Ukraine operation shows that they want to be seen as operational, an ongoing threat, and, based on their statement, firmly opposed to the Russian government. This last point is important because of the strong appearance, while still officially not proven, of the Base and their Ukrainian affiliate to be connected to Russian sabotage operations and have ties to the Russian intelligence services."
Fisher-Birch pointed out that the Ukrainian cell has "only publicized harming Ukrainian individuals, buildings, and infrastructure," with no claims against Russian servicemen invading the country. Leaked information from a secure chat group used by the Base's Ukrainian cell, obtained by the Guardian through a former member, includes images of a decapitated male body in military fatigues, Kalashnikov assault rifles, a bound prisoner, and Base propaganda. These images were run through multiple artificial intelligence detectors and strongly indicated they were human-created, not fabrications.
Group Composition and Security Concerns
The anonymous source, who provided blurred images of military credentials, said the group is composed of approximately 20 individuals and is highly dangerous. "The main core of [the Base] is based in Kyiv," they stated. "I'm 100% sure they have followers in Odesa and Kharkiv too." Over the last year, the Base has posted videos and images of burned-out police and military vehicles in Ukraine, with at least one image showing arson at a government building. The group claims it intends to force the Ukrainian government to grant it a white ethnostate in the west of the country or face a growing neo-Nazi insurgency.
There are legitimate questions surrounding the Base and its links to Russian sabotage, a top security concern among European spy agencies. The group is suspected of being a cog in the Kremlin's covert operations, paying anonymous criminals to carry out terrorist attacks across Europe and inside Ukraine. Fisher-Birch reviewed the leaked images and believes them to be serious, stating, "The images indicate that the group has at least six members in Ukraine, is willing to carry out brutal executions, and is fully embracing the image of neo-Nazism, whether out of genuine ideology or to endorse Russian propaganda talking points."
