Two AWOL soldiers joined a far-right militia in Ukraine. They returned and killed a Florida couple,

[Sancho]

https://www.stripes.com/two-awol-soldiers-joined-a-far-right-militia-in-ukraine-they-returned-and-killed-a-florida-couple-feds-say-1.600713?fbclid=IwAR2DTD683PUxeKaEeaLmGgAvx2a8z8zPzdbzUIhxNAP7rukE-BnY4ioI9TA

The listing said, "For Sale: Lot of Guns," and Serafin Lorenzo was interested.

The 53-year-old who went by Danny liked to buy expensive items and resell them for a profit, and the cache of guns he found on ARMSLIST.com offered the bargain he was looking for. There were four Glocks, a couple of 9mm pistols and nine high-powered rifles. The Florida seller, a guy named "Jeremy," wanted just $3,000 cash.

Police wouldn't find Lorenzo and his wife in the church parking lot until the next morning. Next to Lorenzo's body was a bill of sale for 15 firearms — and a cellphone that would send the FBI down a wild path stretching halfway around the world leading to the alleged perpetrators.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors identified the ex-soldiers as Alex Zwiefelhofer, 22, and Craig Lang, 29, in an indictment charging them with a host of federal crimes tied to the double homicide in Estero, just south of Fort Myers. The 33-page complaint traces the soldiers' zigzagging paramilitary campaigns across the world, starting in Ukraine and, in Lang's case, finally to Venezuela, revealing how some military veterans have been drawn to extremist causes overseas.

Strange story...

[Roland99]

1. The $3000 was to fund a trip to Venezuela

to fight against the govt there

Alex Jones/Faux/Rush-fueled hysteria

[underpants]

2. Plan was just to sail to Venezuela

Man that was a bizarre read.

So they thought they could just steal a yacht and sail 1,609 miles. Any experience? Any provisions?

[Cerridwen]

3. They watched a youtube video? /s /nt

[underpants]

4. Yeah

With Hawaiian shirts

[Cerridwen]

5. "With Hawaiian shirts"...and underpants? :) /nt

[underpants]

6. 😆

[lostnfound]

7. Breaking Hate - Ukrainian neo-nazi group gives training to hate group members

“While home grown terror and hate groups often find their members through the dark web, these organizations have a very real and physical presence in the United States. As Christian Picciolini explores in this episode of Breaking Hate, many members of hate groups in the United States seek training abroad, such as those who join the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in Ukraine. Andrew Onescuk, while just a teenager living in his parent's home, made secret plans to travel and train with the extremist group.“

[octoberlib]

8. White nationionalist groups are going over to Ukraine to fight for the Russians.

Far-Right Extremists Have Been Using Ukraine's War as a Training Ground. They're Returning Home.


Skillt is just one of many far-right extremists, estimated to number between the hundreds and the low thousands, who have flocked to eastern Ukraine to take up arms since fighting erupted in 2014. Hailing from across Europe, North and South America, and as far away as Australia, they’re drawn by the opportunity to fight alongside other right-wing radicals on either side of the conflict. Many see the battle as a crucial training ground for the defense of white Europe, where they can forge deep international links and gain combat experience they believe will be critical at home.

When they return home, they’re battle-hardened and more radicalized than ever, researchers say, and often fly below the radar of security services more focused on the returning jihadi threat.


Researchers warn that Ukraine is radicalizing far-right foreign fighters in the same way Syria has with jihadis — albeit on a smaller scale — creating a global network of combat-tested extremists who pose a security threat that is now beginning to manifest itself.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vb95ma/far-right-extremists-have-been-using-ukraines-civil-war-as-a-training-ground-theyre-returning-home