"Syria has already been 'defended'". Russia's soccer fans disgraced themselves with an action against Ukraine. Photo.

At the 18th round of the Russian football championship match between the St. Petersburg club and Akron, Zenit fans unfurled a banner in support of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The banner depicts the borders of the so-called DPR, LPR, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions against the backdrop of a Russian flag and a soldier's silhouette.

The inscription below reads: "This is our land, and we will stand here."

The campaign caused a storm of negative comments online. Russian users criticized both the banner and its content:

"Shame. I just believed that it was the initiative of the fans, not an instruction from above", "So go stand, not draw pictures, defenders", "Well, I hope they will go sign contracts after the match", "I remember the banners in Kherson: 'Russia is here forever', 'Clowning', 'Syria has already been 'defended', maybe it's enough already. Are there not enough places to realize yourself in Russia?" users mock.

Fontanka.ru writes that Zenit fans refused to attend Russian championship matches after the introduction of Fan ID. For a long time, the traditional fan chants and support were not heard at Gazprom's matches. However, over time, active fans who have no relation to the former fans reappeared on the fan circuit.

Other Russians call them "500-ruble" fans because of the obvious paid-for nature of the action. 

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