Espanola (brigade)

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88th Reconnaissance and Sabotage Brigade "Espaniola"
88-я разведывательно-диверсионная бригада «Эспаньола»
Espaniola's logo
FoundedSpring 2022 – 3 October 2025
Country Russia
TypeInfantry
Size550 members (self-claim, 2023)[1][2]
Part of Vostok Battalion (2022–2023)
Volunteer Corps (2023–2025)[3]
ColoursBlack and white
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		Stanislav Orlov

The 88th Reconnaissance and Sabotage Brigade also known as the Espanola (spelt like Espanyola, Spanish: Española, Russian: Эспаньола) was a Russian irregular military formation created from radical fans of football clubs, including CSKA, Spartak, Torpedo, Zenit, Lokomotiv, Orel and other teams.[4][5][6] Stanislav Orlov, call sign “Испанец” (Spaniard) and a representative of the Red-Blue Warriors group, served as detachment commander.[4][7]

At the beginning of its existence, the formation existed under the Vostok battalion of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). It was eventually put under the command of PMC "Redut" from Russia's military intelligence service GRU.[8]

Many of the members of the brigade espouse right-wing, far-right, and neo-Nazi views. Espanola is also known as the "88th Brigade", which according to Molfar is an explicit neo-Nazi reference. Members of the brigade refer to "14/88" and some have the numbers as a tattoo.[9][8][10][11]

On October 3, 2025, Espanola announced its disbandment as a reorganization of the group.[12][13]

History

[edit]
One of the symbols of the battalion is the so-called "Baklanov Flag", the flag of Yakov Petrovich Baklanov [ru], lieutenant general of the Russian Imperial Army.[14]

Initially, the battalion was formed as a volunteer unit, and then was integrated into the armed forces of the DPR. According to The Times, created by Stanislav Orlov and Alexander Khodakovsky.[7] The unit took part in the fighting during the assault on Azovstal, as well as on the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia fronts. In the spring of 2023, Espaniola announced that it had become a private military company.[6]

The banner of General Yakov Baklanov, who participated in the Caucasian War, is used as one of the symbols.[10]

There were claims that on November 5, 2024 that the Russian Deputy Commander of the Brigade's Sniper Platoon, Pavel "Joker" Apalkov, was killed in combat in the Chasiv Yar direction.[15]

On the night of 23–24 June, Russian milbloggers claimed that two Neptune missiles struck the command post of the Russian 88th “Hispaniola” Volunteer Brigade in Crimea. However they claimed that the based was evacuated before the missile strike.[16]

In October 2025, the brigade was disbanded. According to an announcement on its Telegram channel, the unit was to be reformed into an assault unit and an electronic warfare unit. The same statement noted that the brigade's naval center and the "Melodiya" reconnaissance center would be reorganised as separate entities.[12]

Members

[edit]

The battalion consists of football fans of Russian clubs Zenit, Lokomotiv, Orel, Spartak, Torpedo, CSKA and other teams.[7][6] According to Hispaniola commander Stanislav Orlov, the battalion initially numbered 500 people, including 100 kamikaze drone operators. The unit is equipped by football fans from all over Russia. According to Orlov, the state and businessmen do not provide financial support to the unit.[7]

According to media reports, Espaniola is recruiting fighters with certain combat and technical skills: reconnaissance saboteurs, snipers, drone operators, electronic warfare, air defense, anti-tank guided missiles, signalmen, driver mechanics, doctors.[17] The battalion has its own training ground for military recruits, where they are also taught how to clear mines, pilot drones and operate missile defense systems.[7]

Famous members

[edit]

On August 7, 2023, former player of the Russian national team, CSKA Moscow and Lokomotiv Andrei Solomatin announced his entry into the Hispaniola battalion. He also said that he received the call sign "Soloma" and is located near Bakhmut.[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tom Sanders (2023-03-15). "Russian football hooligans form separate battalion to fight in Ukraine". Metro. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ Matthieu Terrats (28 May 2023). "Guerre en Ukraine : pourquoi le bataillon Española, groupe paramilitaire russe composé de hooligans du football, bénéficie d'un statut spécial attribué par le Kremlin ?". L’indépendant. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  4. ^ a b "Хоккеисты ЦСКА вышли на разминку перед матчем КХЛ в форме с буквой Z и эмблемой батальона «Эспаньола», воюющего в Украине". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  5. ^ Sanders, Tom (2023-03-15). "Russian football hooligans form separate battalion to fight in Ukraine". Metro. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  6. ^ a b c Mas, Cristina (2023-05-27). "La Española: la unidad de ultras del fútbol ruso que lucha contra Ucrania". Ara en Castellano (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  7. ^ a b c d e Parfitt, Tom (2024-04-06). "Russian football hooligans put rivalry aside to fight for Putin in Ukraine". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  8. ^ a b "«Армия на полставки». Кто управляет российскими нерегулярными формированиями, воюющими в Украине? Исследование Би-би-си". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  9. ^ "Neo-Nazi Espanola Brigade Raise Funds For Drones And Other Equipment Through Charitable Foundation Linked To Russian 'Green Alternative' Party". MEMRI. 15 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Фанаты войны: как футбольные хулиганы воюют в Украине и как с этим связан Владислав Сурков и «Единая Россия»". Черта (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  11. ^ "[UPDATED]: What is Española? Neo-Nazis and ultras in the Russian army. Exposing the fighters of the unit". Molfar (company). 15 May 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Российская бригада «Эспаньола», состоящая из ультраправых футбольных болельщиков, объявила о расформировании". The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  13. ^ "'Espanola,' Russian Ultras Militia in Ukraine, Disbands". kyivpost. 3 October 2025.
  14. ^ Institute, Molfar Intelligence (2024-10-25). "Exposing Espanola: Russia's Military Unit Set to Replace Wagner PMC". Molfar. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  15. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  16. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  17. ^ "Guerre en Ukraine : pourquoi le bataillon Española, groupe paramilitaire russe composé de hooligans du football, bénéficie d'un statut spécial attribué par le Kremlin ?". lindependant.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  18. ^ "Бывший игрок сборной России по футболу Андрей Соломатин уехал добровольцем на войну". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-06.