The group eventually known as the Exiles or Siberforce started as a Russian mutant underground coordinated by Father Alexei Garnoff. The Soviet government were responsible for rounding up mutants and placing them in detention centers, and Father Garnoff's associates fought back against the State.
Years later, Father Garnoff joined forces with the former Soviet Super-Soldiers just as half his underground were killed by the cyborg, Firefox. This united group was referred to as the Exiles in Soviet Super-Soldiers #1 and X-Men (2nd series) #17-19, but as Siberforce in Starblast #1. They functioned as outlaw heroes, defending Russia from evil while hunted by their own government. This was in contrast to the extremists Remont-4, who sought the return to Communism after the fall of the Soviet Union, and the People's Protectorate, the moderate of the three who served as officially-sanctioned heroes of the post-USSR government.
When the Winter Guard was formed in Iron Man (3rd series) #9-10, several Siberforce and Protectorate members were part of the new group, indicating the two teams had joined forces and merged behind the scenes.
