In 2023, Russian-language Telegram saw a sharp rise in videos documenting real-world attacks. Far-right groups publish these clips themselves — as propaganda, as recruitment material, and as a way to normalize violence. Only a small share of the crimes captured on camera ever reaches the media — and law enforcement responds even less often.

That is the gap the Nazi Video Monitoring Project (NVMP) tries to close: it tracks, logs, and archives newly published videos of far-right violence in Russian Telegram in order to draw public attention to the scale of the problem, help identify perpetrators, and prevent future attacks.

Crucially, NVMP says it archives but does not republish the original videos to avoid amplifying extremist propaganda. Instead, it shares screenshots and contextual details that can support verification, help clarify circumstances, and assist in finding victims.

What NVMP monitors — and why this approach is important
The logic of far-right “media” is brutally simple: violence becomes content designed to intimidate potential targets and excite supporters. The Jacobin investigation by NVMP founder Gennady Badmaev describes how this ecosystem expanded during wartime, and how Telegram became a key platform for circulating “spectacular street violence.”
Badmaev notes that the volume of new attack videos surged in 2023 — with 15 new videos in May 2023, 25 in June, 23 in July, and 49 in August, a dramatic increase compared to the pre-2023 baseline described in the piece.

What the latest data shows
NVMP publishes monthly roundups based on newly documented videos. In its September 2025 update, the project reported 46 unique videos showing 105 attacks — 63 against people and 42 against property.
NVMP suggests the post-summer spike — after an August lull (49 episodes) — likely had two drivers. First, far-right channels may have held back some footage for “memorial compilations” around September 16, the anniversary of the suicide of Maxim “Tesak” Martsinkevich. Second, it coincided with teenagers returning from holidays. NVMP adds that most September videos showed “novice” patterns (pepper spray attacks and car tyre damage), but also notes two knife-related videos, with neo-Nazis claiming one depicts a killing. (As with any monitoring based on propaganda output, these figures reflect what gets filmed and published, not the full universe of violence.)

The wider context: xenophobia, impunity, and vigilante branding
This trend doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Human Rights Watch has documented rising xenophobic harassment and violence against Central Asian migrants in Russia, noting that violence is often perpetrated by far-right nationalist groups and amplified online.
At the same time, public space increasingly normalizes “community patrol” aesthetics and anti-migrant mobilization. In October 2025, RBC reported on the growth of “Russkaya Obshchina” (Russian Community) into a federal network with ideologues, “druzhinniki” (volunteer enforcers/patrols), and regional branches — and described the group’s broader ecosystem and connections as a political and media phenomenon.

For LGBTQ+ people, this climate is especially dangerous: far-right violence tends to concentrate on groups perceived as vulnerable, stigmatized, or unlikely to seek help. NVMP’s work matters not only as a record, but as an early-warning signal of offline escalation.

How to help — without making things worse
If you recognize locations, people, or other identifying details in NVMP’s publications, avoid posting sensitive information publicly. Use the project’s direct channels so investigators can handle it responsibly and so you don’t expose victims (or yourself) to additional risk.