The launch came at a meeting on Wednesday at Newcastle’s Centre Against Unemployment.

Similar groups are springing up across Europe following reports that far-right activists from European countries are turning up in Ukraine as “volunteers” to fight alongside fascist forces.

Western governments have been supporting western Ukraine authorities whose make-up includes openly fascist and neonazi organisations.

Fascist groups have attacked and wrecked trades union offices and a gay club in Ukraine, while the interim government in the west is attempting to ban the Communist Party, which won 2.7 million votes at Ukraine’s last elections.

In June 150 people attended a meeting in London in solidarity with Ukraine’s Antifascist Resistance.

Ukrainian miners’ leaders were among the guests who spoke at the Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday and received a warm reception.