Hundreds of motorcyclists loyal to the Kremlin in leather vests, on powerful motorcycles and with the Russian flag under the banner of the “Night Wolves” club took to the streets of Moscow on Saturday for a “patriotic” action towards the roads of Europe, writes The Moscow Times. The rally passes through eastern Ukraine and ends in Germany , reports AFP.

“War will not stop spring. This is the main message of today’s holiday,” Oleksandr Zaldastanov nicknamed “Surgeon”, 60 years old, leader and founder of the Night Wolves club, said on Saturday before the start of the rally, reports news.ro.

“Despite all the difficulties Russia is facing, our desire for victory is eternal,” he assured.

Everything must be done to “bring the Russian army closer to victory” in Ukraine. Putin-admiring Russian ultra-nationalist bikers waved Russian and Soviet flags.

Some motorcyclists, who are considered Putin’s “angels”, pasted the letter “Z” on their motorcycles – a symbol of the “Russian special operation” in Ukraine, launched by the President of the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022.

The action called “Wheels of Victory” revived the traditional slogan of the Russian offensive on Ukraine – “We will not leave our own.”

According to the organizers, on May 1, motorcyclists will pass through Volgograd – the former Stalingrad – on the Volga, the theater of the bloody battle between the Soviet and Nazi troops in 1942-1943, which became a turning point in the Second World War. , to the victory of the USSR and its allies at that time.

“Night Wolves” arrived in Donetsk

They will continue their journey to the Donetsk region, a zone of fierce armed confrontations in the east of Ukraine, where they want to distribute humanitarian aid to Russian civilians and military personnel.

“The people of Donbas and we are one and the same,” 34-year-old Artem told AFP before leaving.

“Residents should support our people, wherever they are,” says 50-year-old motorcyclist Oleksiy, who came from Minsk, the capital of Belarus, more than 700 kilometers from Moscow, to take part in the race.

Iryna Yermolina, 45, a nurse, says that the “Night Wolves” regularly send humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, both to civilians and to wounded Russian soldiers.

Rock concert before departure

Having made a circle in Moscow, the participants returned to the starting place – “Velocentr” – for a concert of “patriotic” rock bands.

“Let’s applaud all those who are defending our Motherland today,” demanded one of the singers on stage to a crowd of leather jackets and headphones lined up on tables next to beer mugs.

“Russian land, my homeland!” – sings one of the bands along with the audience.

However, one of the participants says that he does not agree with the “patriotic” slogans of this party.

“I don’t like anything offensive,” said the 40-year-old, who did not want to give his name.

The rally will end on May 9 in Berlin

The organizers expect to finish the rally in Berlin on May 9.

Oleksandr Zaldastanov, who says he is a “friend” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been sanctioned by the West for supporting Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.

In May 2015, Zaldastanov was banned from entering Poland because he wanted to organize a “victory motorcycle ride” across Europe.

Then this ban angered Russian diplomacy.