{"id":25006,"date":"2025-07-11T20:58:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T18:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osmstatecnych.cz\/part-three-skrepach\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T11:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T09:53:40","slug":"part-three-skrepach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osmstatecnych.cz\/en\/part-three-skrepach\/","title":{"rendered":"Part Three | Skrepach"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

We continue the “series” from the NON-WHITE COAT initiative about Russian resistance organizations. This time<\/a>, we spoke with a representative of the partisan group “Skrepach<\/a>“, which is part of the URF – the United Resistance Front<\/a>.<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The third part of the partisan special, compiled by the Non-White Coat organization<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Being a Partisan\u2014A Choice of the Heart<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The motive that leads people to such activity can, of course, vary, but most people who come are unwilling to endure what is happening; they thirst for action. However, the motive can also be material, says our source. People driven to poverty, forced into debt slavery, are ready for the most desperate solutions\u2014and it is they who mostly go to fight in Ukraine for money. When the Resistance manages to lure them away, it kills not two, but three birds with one stone: an action can be carried out that deals a blow to the regime; it helps a person earn money and pay off debts without selling themselves as cannon fodder; thus, it prevents a person from going to war, thereby weakening the regime at least a little. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What kind of people become partisans?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"Being a partisan is difficult, risky, like walking on the edge of a knife, on the edge of a cliff,\" says our source right at the beginning, whom we will henceforth call simply Skrepach, and warns against excessive romanticization of this dangerous profession. \"That is why being a partisan is not a profession; it is a state of mind, a choice of your heart.\" <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

“After all, the fewer resources the regime has in the war, the sooner it will lose, and the closer a just future will be. Russia’s defeat may initially bring us a difficult period, but we must go through this transformation. We\u2014society and the state\u2014are ill; and the only cure is resistance.” But for many, money does not matter; as they say, they “work for the idea.” Others generally refuse compensation for expenses related to scouting a target and preparing an action. <\/span><\/p>\n

Like, for example, a partisan from Kazan who, despite all of Skrepach’s attempts to reimburse his expenses, did not accept a single ruble. “After a successful and serious action, he only asked: ‘What are we planning next?'”<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Among the partisans are also people who are disillusioned, who desperately expect justice. One woman joined the movement after her boyfriend was arrested at a protest in support of Alexei Navalny: “It was as if something changed in my head.” <\/span><\/p>

But even those who were initially in favor of the war and “supporting Russia’s interests” can often completely change their minds. Sometimes those who return from the war and whose eyes have been opened to what is happening, who have seen the war and the Russian invasion army from the inside, join the partisans. Former soldiers change sides “when they saw what horror Putin’s army actually brings, that not everything is as it is in the news.” <\/span><\/p>

And also those who faced the fact that their homeland can easily abandon them. For one soldier, the final straw was the fact that his family, who suffered from a flood, “received a pittance, they were not provided with normal housing, but the local ‘king’ lives in luxury and his children are abroad.” <\/span><\/p>

“When he returned, he joined us,” says Skrepach.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Turnkey Partisan<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"The state gives us no choice, so every action of ours is a form of protest, a chance for the future.\" \nOf course, there is always danger in such a matter. But with proper preparation, risks can be minimized. \n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

“That is why we want partisans to contact us, write to us, and consult. We will always tell you how to do it better, what the principles of work are, and how to increase safety,” Skrepach assures. “After all, the main work happens before the actions. Preparation, careful scouting of the target, the right tools\u2014that is the foundation. You could say we help you become a turnkey partisan.” <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Being a partisan is a choice of your heart<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

“In general, it is an interesting creative process, but there is also a bit of romance in it,” Skrepach smiles. “One cannot fail to notice the element of luck in partisan activity.” As an example of the latter, our partner shares a story. For a long time, the group could not figure out where a “regime dog” parked his car:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

“We felt like we wouldn’t find him anymore. He wasn’t parked anywhere near the address, we took a larger search radius\u2014and still nothing. We were about to give up; it wasn’t meant to be!” But one day, when the partisan was returning from an unsuccessful scout at the address and no longer hoped for success, by complete chance he saw the car he was looking for entering a paid parking lot.<\/span><\/p>\n

“And fortunately, they were just looking for an employee for that parking lot,” our partner concludes significantly.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\t\t
\n\t\t\t \n