Wolverines, a group started by international veterans who have been quietly operating in Ukraine. Fighters abandon steel plant as Mariupol appears on the verge of falling The Wolverines became a mysterious part of the war last month when photos showing their name spray-painted on destroyed Russian tanks began appearing on social media.Speculation soon spread that it was a nod to the 1984 Cold War classic Red Dawn, about Colorado teens who use their high school mascot’s name as a calling card as they fight off a Soviet invasion of the United States.Who was marking up Russian army wreckage in Ukraine, however, remained unknown.But key members of the Wolverines gave Global News exclusive access to their training camp this week and said they were responsible.They acknowledged that writing “Wolverines” on Russian armour was indeed inspired by Red Dawn, and said they had screened the movie for Ukrainian trainees and encouraged them to mark up Russian tanks.“The people that we’ve trained, they’ve gone out.
Some of these guys, we give them cans of spray paint and teach them how to write it in English before they go. We also have people embedded with them,” an American instructor said.“The reason that we tag the tanks is to draw references for the West to see that we are here.
They are well aware of the movie. But also this has an impact on the psychology of the Russians. They know we’re here … that the world has united against them.”The group’s shoulder patch also references the film.
It’s taken from a scene in which a Wolverine rebel stands on a hill hoisting an assault rifle above his head with one arm.“Everybody loves Red Dawn,” said the American instructor, a former U.S.