The well-known military and political events started in Yugoslavia in the early '90s. And in the summer of 1992 the first Russian 'volunteers' went all by themselves into a new hot spot after the war in Transnistria. By someone's considerations, the local Slavs allegedly had to be defended.
Then the widely known Igor Strelkov-Girkin appeared among the group of 'patriots'.
Somehow, the Russian media (with tears in their eyes) presented this fact as the archetype of the 'Russian patriotism'.
However, you should wonder: how could it be possible in post-Soviet Russia to leave the country with combat equipment, and even take part in the hostilities?
The Russian writer Mikhail Polikarpov assures that several hundreds of 'Russian volunteers' continuously operated in Bosnia in 1992-1995, using the tactics of reconnaissance and sabotage groups. The fighters of 'Rubikon' security company from St. Petersburg formed the basis of that detachment.