By Micah Jonah
January 22, 2026
An underground resistance group linked to the Crimean Tatar community has intensified sabotage operations inside Russian controlled territories and within Russia itself, as the war in Ukraine continues with no sign of de escalation.
The group, known as Atesh, said one of its recent operations caused a power outage that shut down a railway line in the Bryansk region of western Russia near the Ukrainian border. The railway was being used to transport Russian weapons and military supplies to the front lines. According to the group, an agent set fire to a nearby power substation, disrupting train movement in the area.
Atesh, which means fire in the Crimean Tatar language, has claimed responsibility for more than half of the sabotage attacks reported in Russian occupied parts of Ukraine in 2025, according to conflict monitoring groups. The organisation said it focuses on damaging logistics systems that support Russian military operations.
The group was founded in September 2022, months after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine. While its core membership is made up of Crimean Tatars, it also includes Ukrainians as well as some Russians and Belarusians, according to representatives of the movement.
Atesh said it believes resistance from within occupied territories is becoming increasingly important as the conflict turns into a prolonged war of attrition. The group said Russian forces cannot secure every supply route, rail line or military depot, making internal sabotage an effective strategy.
Security analysts say many sabotage acts are coordinated with Ukrainian intelligence agencies, although some are carried out independently by civilians or small resistance cells. Researchers note that recruitment is often done online and that motivations vary, including political beliefs, financial incentives and fear of occupation authorities.
Targets frequently include railway infrastructure, supply convoys, fuel depots and communication towers. The group has also claimed responsibility for attacks on military facilities inside Russia, including damage to a locomotive in Rostov and the destruction of a communications tower linked to an air defence factory in the Tula region south of Moscow.
While the direct military impact of each attack may be limited, experts say repeated disruptions can strain Russian logistics, increase security costs and delay the movement of troops and equipment. Over time, these pressures can weaken operational capacity, especially during sustained combat.
Atesh says it operates through small independent cells to reduce the risk of infiltration by Russian security services. Members reportedly communicate through encrypted platforms and do not know the identities of operatives in other cells.
The group also claims it has supporters within Russian security institutions, including members of the armed forces and national guard, who provide intelligence on troop movements and military facilities. These claims cannot be independently verified.
In addition to sabotage, Atesh carries out reconnaissance missions and passes information to Ukrainian forces. The group said its intelligence helped Ukrainian strikes in previous operations, including attacks that forced Russia to relocate parts of its Black Sea naval fleet.
The group also engages in propaganda activities, placing stickers and messages in Russian and occupied cities to encourage resistance and undermine morale among troops.
In some cases, Atesh has admitted to using lethal force, stating that it targets individuals involved in military operations or those accused of collaborating with occupation authorities.
Analysts warn that anyone suspected of cooperating with Ukrainian forces in occupied territories faces severe punishment, including detention without trial or disappearance. Despite the risks, resistance activity has continued.
For Crimean Tatars, opposition to Russian control is deeply rooted in history. The community was deported en masse by Soviet authorities in 1944, and many died during forced relocation to Central Asia. Although survivors were later allowed to return, tensions remained after Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, when Tatar political institutions were banned and activists were arrested or disappeared.
Atesh says its campaign will continue as long as Russian forces remain in territories claimed by Ukraine, describing its mission as both political and personal for many of its members.
