The leader of Ukraine’s anti-Putin militia, Denis Kaptsyn, was killed during nighttime combat in the Zaporizhzhya region, according to an announcement from his forces on Saturday.
Kaptsyn, a prominent commander of the right-wing Russian Volunteer Forces—who have been active against Vladimir Putin’s troops in Ukraine—was reportedly killed in a drone strike at the front.
In a message on Telegram, RVC stated, “Kapustin died heroically during a combat mission. We will have our revenge, Dennis. Your legacy will live on.”
The post further expressed that, “His way of life as a warrior never strayed from his words. Dennis was fearless and honest. He died on a combat tour as a man.”
Kaptsyn, aged 41 and also known as Denis Nikitin or “White Rex,” had been residing in Ukraine since 2017.
Initially, at 17, his family relocated from Moscow to Germany, and later to Ukraine. He faced expulsion from numerous European nations due to his connections to football hooliganism and alleged neo-Nazi ideologies, which he disputes.
When Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kaptsyn contributed to founding the elite 3rd Assault Brigade in Ukraine.
Not long after, he established the Russian Volunteer Army, committing to “wage armed combat against the dictatorial regime of President Putin and his inner circle to reclaim Russia’s future.”
The militia has gained attention throughout the conflict by crossing into Russian border towns and capturing numerous Russians. Putin has labeled them as “saboteurs” and “terrorists.”
Following an attack in March 2023, Kaptsyn was added to the Kremlin’s register of “terrorists and extremists” and placed on the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list that same month, according to reports.
