Czech Volunteer Killed Fighting for Ukraine

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), a unit fighting on Ukraine’s side, announced on social media that three of its members – known by the call signs “Chek”, “Guffi” and “Skvernoslov” – were killed during fighting in Ukraine this spring.

The deaths are the unit’s first reported casualties since January, when rifleman Timofey Anufriyev, known by the call sign “Eney”, was killed in combat.

“Chek” was Jakub Jurcaga, a Czech citizen born in 1980. In May 2025, Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Karpenko published a lengthy interview with Jurcaga, RDK founder and commander Denis Nikitin, and other members of the unit. The interview was part of a series featuring prisoners captured while serving in the Russian armed forces.

Jurcaga had previously married a Russian woman and moved to Russia. After being drafted into the Russian military, he took part in the invasion of Ukraine.

Following his capture by Ukrainian forces, he was given the choice of remaining a prisoner of war until the end of the conflict or joining a prisoner exchange. Instead, he applied to join the RDK, saying he wanted to atone for his actions.

(hal)