The group of Russian ultras Hispaniola, created as a counterweight to the Azov regiment, is under the patronage of Putin’s party.
Party of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin United Russia got its own private army – the so-called PMC Espanola (or also Espanola). The terrorist formation itself is not a new structure – it was created during a mass invasion and became part of the so-called battalion East as a volunteer unit of Russian football hooligans. However, some members of the group have a large trail of war crimes in Ukraine since 2014.
Now the Kremlin began to actively invest money and build Hispaniola for the war in Ukraine. What is known about the situation is more than the story.
Counterbalance in the Azov regiment
It is officially recorded that Hispaniola took part in the battles during the siege of Mariupol. Its militants also invaded Azovstal. Since then, the Espanola began to position itself as a reconnaissance unit, supposedly composed of scouts, snipers, combat medics, signalmen, attack aircraft, UAV operators and electronic warfare crews.
Later, the propaganda media distributed some material about how Russia is preparing this unit for the war in Ukraine. It, according to their information, was formed exclusively from representatives of fan groups of Russian Premier League clubs – CSKA Moscow, Spartak or Lokomotiv, St. Petersburg Zenit and others.
At the same time, Espanola did not hesitate to admit that they created a group that opposes Ukrainian football fans who voluntarily left to defend Ukraine. Basically, they oppose themselves to the Azov regime, where there are many Ukrainian ultras.
Espanola also does not hide its special hatred for the Azov people, because, as is known, among the members of the group there are also Ukrainian traitors from the football environment who went to the Russian side.
Leader of the mind
The unit is headed by Moscow native Stanislav Orlov. Previously, he represented the CSKA Red-Blue Warrior fan movement. In 2014, he came to fight in Donbass and in Gorlovka ended up in Igor Bezler’s “brigade” (call sign “Bes”). Orlov created a reconnaissance company Skull and bones and became its commander. At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it received the task of organizing based on Skull and bones a unit of Russian ultras.
The very name of PVK Espanola comes from the nickname of Orlov, whose name is Spanish. They began to call him because he spoke several foreign languages, and he helped attract mercenaries to foreigners.
Orlov and many other members of the group have tattoos on their arms with the corresponding inscription Espanola.
Fan Preparation
As already mentioned, Espanola is often visited by fans of Russian football clubs. At the same time, belonging to a particular club is not taken into account. According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, among the recruits there are many Russian radicals of all stripes, in particular, sympathizers of Nazi ideology.
Orlov explains this by saying that these people “fight better for the mobilized, because they have more motivation.” In addition, they are used to fan clashes and are more disciplined.
Fan selections take place at the headquarters in Moscow. After selection, the recruits were trained at training sites in the Moscow region and near St. Petersburg. Another training camp is already located in the occupied territory of Ukraine (the occupiers call it “pioneer camp Zvezdochka”).
Some of the Russian fans admitted that they left to fight against Ukraine because of the additional emotions that are lacking in the surrounding football battles. However, since 2023, as the Main Intelligence Directorate notes, Hispaniola is “under the wing” of Putin’s party United Russia. With their money, the group became a private military company and began active recruitment in the PMC.
Now, in addition to “emotion,” volunteers are promised 220 thousand rubles per month for direct participation in the battles against Ukraine. The contract with them was completed for at least six months.
Death for Moscow is also attracted by “insurance payments”: 1 million rubles – a minor injury; 2 million rubles – moderate damage; 3 million rubles – serious damage; 5 million rubles – death.
“However, financial motivation serves only as a cover. For most recruits, the very first battle is a one-way ticket. The Russians do not take the dead and seriously wounded from the recruited “cannons fodder” from the battlefield, they registered themselves as “missing in action” so that their relatives could not be paid rubles for the breadwinner sent by Moscow to death,” GUR added.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.