The Black Bridge organization opposes the Putin regime and the war it unleashed in Ukraine. It recognizes only armed struggle against tyranny and calls on Russians to revolt. Members of the organization believe that “useless rallies, lantern processions, and dreams of the Beautiful Russia of the Future” cannot bring results, and therefore the organization “trains supporters in Russia and gives them all the opportunity to contribute themselves to the liberation of the country from the Putin regime.”
The second part of the partisan special, compiled by the White Coat Off organization
PLANTING COTTON
Black Bridge’s words are confirmed by their actions. They demonstrated the seriousness of their intentions by taking responsibility for the major operation on March 16, 2023, when an explosion accompanied by a massive fire occurred in the Federal Security Service building in Rostov-on-Don.
16.03.2023
At that time, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, no partisan group had ever targeted the buildings of this unit or the representatives of the special service directly. "Escobar" considered this a major oversight:
The action caused a stir: all news servers, both opposition and propaganda, wrote about it. “Black Bridge” gained the trust of all major resistance movements. Subsequently, the partisan with the call sign “Escobar,” who carried out the sabotage, emphasized in his statement that the FSB is a “bastion of hypocrisy, violence, and lawlessness in the country,” because it is the personnel of this structure who “fabricate criminal cases against undesirable persons, seize businesses from entrepreneurs, organize diversions against civilians, torture oppositionists, and physically eliminate ‘competitors’.”
Setting fire to a military recruitment office or a ‘Z’ vehicle will never match the effectiveness and impact of significant damage to an FSB branch building or the elimination of an individual who is an employee of the office. I appeal to everyone who is not indifferent, to those who are ready to stand up to the regime with radical methods and are already doing so – move on to more serious targets. Do not be afraid. Let the direct action in Rostov-on-Don serve as an example and motivate you to new, even greater achievements.”
“Cotton should bloom,” Black Bridge then summarized with a pun, suggesting that there should be many more such actions.
The organization itself then added its first conclusions on the results of “sowing cotton” at the FSB in Rostov-on-Don:
“The main component of success is the will to win, however cliché that may sound. The desire to destroy Putin’s fascism. Monetary motivation—’you provide the action, we give you money’—is useless and gets in the way when a person knows what they are doing and why.”
Although money is important, partisan activity is not as expensive as many might think. The direct costs for the preparation and execution of the action in Rostov amounted to only about 50,000 rubles. All these funds were obtained by the organization as donations in cryptocurrencies. But in terms of effort, it was “like a second job, without time off, without a social package, and without a salary,” members of Black Bridge commented with humor.
BLACK BRIDGE
Original name: Чёрный мост
Start of activity: August 1, 2022 Country of origin: Russia Type of resistance: partisans
A partisan initiative with a horizontal structure that raises funds for and initiates partisan actions, instructs partisans, and teaches them necessary skills and safety principles. After the Stop the Wagons movement ceased operations, it adopted and continues its methods. In 2023, a military wing of Black Bridge was established; the partisans joined the Freedom of Russia Legion. The initiative is part of the COALITION.
The action involving the FSB building took “several months of effort” from everyone involved, with 95-99% of the work consisting of preparation, camouflage, and covering tracks, and only the remaining pittance spent on manufacturing the three-kilogram bomb. And that is much more effective than a Molotov cocktail, and the use of such a handmade product is much more logical for a target as large as the FSB building, the organization believes.
Escobar
A Russian partisan who, in cooperation with the Black Bridge movement, planned and carried out the action leading to the explosion of the FSB building in Rostov-on-Don on March 16, 2023.
Escobar deliberately chose the FSB building, as he considers this institution part of the criminal regime and therefore a legitimate target for partisan action. His incendiary mechanism used a light bulb that burned out and burst in a container with an explosive mixture. He spent about a month preparing the action, using components commonly available in stores.
"Paranoid Zero Trust" and "BB University"
In particular, those involved in the organization have insisted and continue to insist on compliance with information security and operational secrecy requirements. In the context of partisan activity, this becomes, without exaggeration, vital, and “paranoid Zero Trust” is not a luxury but a necessity. The main Rostov “cotton sower” “Escobar” also warned about caution and prudence:
“Remember that every operation must be carefully thought out to the last detail. Do not rush. Check all materials. Develop strategy and tactics. Hold a practice run some time before the actual action. There must be no haste. You don’t have to be super-prepared to achieve a successful result. It is enough to think through solutions in advance for all possible problems that may arise during the action.”
Of course, such a variety of factors is much easier to think through and calculate if you act together. Black Bridge also pointed this out, noting that acting alone is much harder and more dangerous because “you may not know or notice certain nuances.”
Unfortunately, many anti-war Russians who ventured into a “spontaneous revolt” against the regime ended up in prison because they did not follow safety rules. The partisans of Black Bridge have always been cautious and acted rationally, realizing that a hot heart must be balanced by a cold mind. Hitting the target, avoiding accidental casualties, and ultimately remaining free after the action—they are ready to help newcomers with all of this at “BB University”:
“It is worth understanding that it is better to spend time learning—what will protect you from trouble—than to take the easiest path and end up in prison. If the world of resistance seems incomprehensible or too complex to you—seek support, sign up for Black Bridge training. It is free and safe. Partisan, resistance fighter, anti-Putin activist, you are not alone. You don’t have to be alone, there is no need to be alone. There are many of us.”
19.04.2024
Of course, Black Bridge did not limit itself to blowing up the FSB building. On May 19, 2024, the group set fire to the workshop of the "Vologda Tailoring Battalion," which supplied the front with about 500 camouflage nets per month.
The Fight Continues
The official version of the incident was traditionally reduced to “faulty wiring,” which supposedly had long needed replacement.
October 2024
In October of the same year, Black Bridge participated in an intelligence operation called Pharmakon, conducted jointly with the Russian partisan organization Algiz and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This operation revealed Russia's exploitation of children and adults with mental disabilities in military production.
Drone Parts and Disabled Children
The investigation revealed that disabled people were forced to print military components on 3D printers and assemble them into products destined for the Russian army.
The organization continues to train supporters at its “university” and advise individuals. The movement’s contribution to the development of the resistance is significant—partisans have begun to learn to follow safety rules, “thanks to which they remained free and unharmed,” the Black Bridge members note.
The Non-Existent Organization
"Black Bridge" ironically refers to itself as a "non-existent organization." However, it is hard to ignore the existence of a group that has serious and significant actions to its credit. At the same time, like all other partisan movements in Russia, Black Bridge does not harm peaceful people.
Black Bridge also participates in the fight against the Kremlin junta within the ranks of the Ukrainian army. The military wing WAR BRIDGE (also recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation) was founded in September 2023 and is part of the International Legion.
“Black Bridge volunteers are conscious Russian citizens who refused to remain silent and watch Russia plunge into the abyss under the rule of a bloody dictator. Together with other Russian volunteers, they fight against the Putin regime and prove once again that tyranny only understands the language of force.”
WAR BRIDGE
Original name: WAR BRIDGE
Start of activity: August 1, 2022
Country of origin: Russia
Type of resistance: military unit
The military wing of the Russian partisan group Black Bridge – the partisans joined the Freedom of Russia Legion and formed their own unit within it. They fight on the side of Ukraine.
TO BE CONTINUED
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