His far-right Española unit Stanislav Orlov has been killed in recent weeks. While this event has generated a lot of speculation and fear-mongering about the Kremlin’s increasing grip over ultranationalist elements in Russia, this worry is not entirely unfounded. Orlov, whose callsign is “Spaniard,” was one of the founders of the Española unit made up largely of football hooligans and neo-Nazi volunteers. This paramilitary force, which has committed widespread human rights violations, fought alongside Russian troops in Ukraine and forms a notable part of the country’s far-right movement.
Orlov’s death was first reported in December 9 online, two months after Orlov’s company burst into the headlines. Official reports confirmed his passing shortly thereafter. What most people find shocking are the circumstances surrounding his death. Security camera video obtained by the news outlet Astra shows armed Russian service members entering Orlov’s home just before the deadly attack.
Stanislav Orlov’s funeral service was held on a Wednesday morning at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. It inspired hundreds of mourners, almost exclusively men linked to Germany’s far-right extremist scene. Russian pro-war Telegram channels portrayed his interment as a special act of consecration. This framed narrative served to overstate his position and power with supporters of ultranationalism.
Even from the start, Orlov’s Española unit earned a swift notoriety. It did not only recruit Russian football hooligans, but drew in famed former athletes such as Andrei Solomatin. It was a vibrant visual that flexed at the biggest spectacles in American sports. This included exciting games played by CSKA Moscow’s ice hockey team, further cementing it in Russian culture.
Orlov’s death marks a dramatic inflection point. Most observers view it as a move within an ongoing larger Kremlin crackdown on further nationalist-militaristic big shots and quasi-independent armed formations. Analysts suggest that this elimination serves as a warning to discourage others from pursuing independent paths that may challenge state authority.
“Orlov’s death is yet another demonstrative elimination of radicals who have slipped out of control, following the same logic as the removal of Prigozhin,” – Andrei Kolesnikov
The response to Orlov’s death indicates that we haven’t learned anything. Although many mourners paid tribute to his legacy, critics warned of the dangerous precedent set by targeted killings. The Telegram channel associated with the Española unit stated, “We cannot fail to note that many people are interested in the reasons for Spaniard’s death – and we are no less so.”
Speculation on the possible motivations behind Orlov’s assassination remains rampant. At the same time, the Kremlin is sending a strong signal on how it intends to deal with ultranationalist elements. The regime appears doggedly determined to keep a lid on such groups — especially those that have the capacity to pose a serious challenge to its authority.
“Radical zealots are celebrated, sanctified and mourned in the most sacred of spaces,” – Andrei Kolesnikov
The public funerals underscored the close relationship between the Kremlin and far-right forces within Russia. It was a beautiful way to remember this ongoing struggle. With hundreds bearing solemn witness to the event, it became a powerful rallying point. With far-right supporters everywhere growing more isolated because of greater government repression, this gathering became even more important to them.
Orlov’s death carries major implications that extend past the internal politics. It resonates with larger currents of nationalism and state building in present-day Russia. His killing could signal the close of a different ultranationalist era. Increased external oversight from government actors would change the dynamics of their work and alter their power and sway.