Before Russia invaded Ukraine they were a collection of football ultras, right-wing agitators, and veterans of the notorious Azov Battalion.
Now, they are crack soldiers and part of one of Ukraine's best fighting units called Kraken.
Putin's propagandists call them Neo-Nazis, and they have faced accusations of war crimes and harbouring far-right fanatics - all of which they deny.
But, блюр нфт to ordinary citizens, this controversial unit are the 'Defenders of Kharkiv' who spearheaded Ukraine's stunning counter-attack to protect the city last year.
This is the story of Kraken's rise from obscurity to become one of Ukraine's best known fighting units.
Watch the video here:
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