Main image: Nikolai Fast repeatedly delivers aid supplies to units of the Russian army – as here in December 2024 in Crimea. (Screenshot / Telegram group “Brotherhood Moto-Help from Germany”)
In Germany, a network posing as a humanitarian aid initiative has been found to be raising funds for the Russian army, as reported by Correctiv.
The center of activity is a Telegram group called “Brotherhood of Moto-Helpers,” which has around 5,500 members. Formally, the collections are declared for children and hospitals, but the money and goods ultimately go to the needs of Russian military forces. Among the purchases are radios, sights, medical supplies, camouflage nets, and drone equipment.
The main organizer is Nikolai Fast, a native of Siberia who has long lived in Germany. He served in the Bundeswehr, was associated with the “Night Wolves” motorcycle club, and in 2022 created a group to help truckers, which later turned into a channel for raising funds for the Russian army.
Donations are collected in euros, sent to a mailbox in Gütersloh, and then forwarded to Russia or to occupied territories of Ukraine. Fast publishes reports with photos of receipts and thanks from soldiers, often featuring the “Z” symbol.
German law enforcement has previously tried to investigate his activities. In 2024, the Hanover prosecutor opened cases for sanctions violations and complicity in crimes, but they were closed due to lack of evidence. By that time, Fast had moved to Russia, obtained citizenship, and continued his operations. Experts note that participation in such fundraising could be considered complicity in war crimes, and theoretically even donors could be held accountable.
Despite this, the “Brotherhood of Moto-Helpers” continues to actively collect money, and Russian media present Fast as an example of “popular support” for the army.
