Black Spark (Russia)
| Black Spark | |
|---|---|
| Чёрная искра | |
 Logo of Black Spark | |
Leader | Igor Volobuev (public spokesperson) |
| Dates active | 2025–present |
| Country | Russia |
| Allegiance | Special Operations Forces of Ukraine |
| Active regions | Russia |
| Ideology | Anti-Putinism |
| Status | Active |
| Wars | Russo-Ukrainian War |
Black Spark (Russian: Чёрная искра, romanized: Chernaya Iskra) is an underground resistance group operating inside Russia, claiming to work in coordination with Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) towards the violent overthrow of the Putin government and the disruption of Russian military and industrial infrastructure.[1][2]
The group's membership, organizational structure, and the full extent of its claimed operations have not been independently verified.[3]
Background
[edit]Igor Volobuev, a former vice president of Gazprombank who defected to Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has publicly identified himself as a spokesperson for the movement.[4][5] Ukrainian SOF Command has officially confirmed coordination with Black Spark representatives.[6]
Operational history
[edit]On 28 September 2025, Black Spark along with Ukrainian SSO destroyed a Buk missile system and Nebo-SVU radar station in Russia's Rostov Oblast.[7]
In October 2025, the Kinef oil refinery was attacked by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces in cooperation with Black Spark.[8]
On 4 October 2025, a transport and loading vehicle for the 9K720 Iskander was destroyed in Kursk Oblast as well as a 1L122 "Garmon" radar station.[9]
On 12 December, 2025 Ukraine's Special Operations Forces claimed the destruction of two Russian ships, Kompozitor Rakhmaninov and Askar-Saridzha, in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Kalmykia.[10][6]
On 27 June 2026, the website for Alabuga Special Economic Zone was hacked, displaying a message from Black Spark. The group claimed to have extracted employee databases including personnel family members, residential addresses, and supply chain records.[1] They also claimed to have sabotaged drone batches, stating operators would face "unpleasant consequences" upon launch attempts.[3]
On 28 June 2026, the Yaroslavl refinery was hit by deep strike Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian National News reported the SSO carried out the strike in cooperation with Black Spark.[11]
On 13 July Black Spark collaborated with the USF on a deep strike on the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery Saratov Oblast in Bashkortostan.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Black Spark resistance claims data breach at Shahed drone production facility". Militarnyi.com. 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ukraine, Black Spark eliminates launcher for Russia's deadliest missiles in Kursk Oblast". Euromaidan Press. 5 November 2025.
- 1 2 "Black Spark claimed infiltration of Alabuga drone facility". The Insider (in Russian). 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Russia Policy Monitor No. 2730". American Foreign Policy Council. 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Inside Russia's secret resistance: the movement that wants to bring down Vladimir Putin". Open Magazine. 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 "SOF and Black Spark resistance movement strike two Russian vessels in Caspian Sea". Militarnyi.com. 12 December 2025.
- ↑ Struck-Feshchenko, Julia (31 October 2025). "'Turned Into Scrap Metal': Ukrainian Spec Ops, Russian Rebels Hit Key Air Defense Systems in Rostov". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ Rozgon, Olga (4 October 2025). "Third attack in a year: Russian rebels helped Ukrainian fighters hit one of the largest oil refineries in Russia". Ukrainian National News. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ Mukhina, Olena (5 November 2025). "Ukraine, Black Spark eliminates launcher for Russia's deadliest missiles in Kursk Oblast". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ukraine claims destruction of 2 vessels transporting Russian arms in Caspian Sea". The Moscow Times. 12 December 2025.
- ↑ Haftko, Stepan (28 June 2026). "SSO struck the Yaroslavl oil refinery, critical for Moscow, and explained the importance of the target". Ukrainian National News. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Ukrainian drones reach last major Russian refinery untouched in 2026". Ukrainska Pravda. 14 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.