What raccoons can tell us about Russia’s violent entrepreneurs.
The history of ENOT Corp mirrors the evolution of Russia’s mercenaries. 🧵
ENOT Corp was one of many Russian mercenary groups that first rose to prominence in 2014.
It blended imperial nationalism, Orthodoxy, paramilitary cosplay, and some rather strange cultural references — including Marvel’s Rocket Racoon (enot is Russian for racoon).
In its early days, like many others, ENOT Corp mobilised in support of Russia’s intervention in eastern Ukraine.
Then, as Russia became less enamoured of free-wheeling actors, it focused on “military-patriotic” activities in the so-called “Russian world.”
It also freelanced as muscle in corporate raiding. But it fell foul of the Russian state, and its leaders ended up behind bars.
Now, those same leaders have been released from prison and are heading back to Ukraine, to fight Russia’s latest war.
In this Friday’s newsletter, I’ll be telling the story of this particularly hapless group of violent entrepreneurs.