Russian Church has a private army. Ukrainian intelligence reveals
11:05 AM EDT, October 20, 2023
The Russian Orthodox Church has created its own secret military units, which recruit believers to fight in Ukraine and provide them with combat training - such information was conveyed by the Ukrainian service SBU. There are also rumors about the existence of a "private military group called Andrejewskij Krest". The Church vehemently denies this.
According to information from Ukrainian secret services, who allegedly have evidence, the Andrejevskij Krest is just one of those types of units. This group focuses on recruiting men who have previously served in the military in Russia and have combat experience - report Ukrainian services.
Recruits who have been accepted undergo intensive military-tactical and shooting training under the supervision of instructors from Russian special services. The SBU further reports that these private military groups are financed by individuals from financial-industrial circles close to the Kremlin chief. These funds are transferred to the accounts of the Russian Orthodox Church as donations intended for charitable purposes and for the construction of temples.
Last fall, Russian media reported on the formation of the "first private military group at the Russian Orthodox Church". At that time, Archimandrite Alexey emphasized that the organization Andrejewskij Krest is solely concerned with preparing volunteers for survival in combat conditions, and all other matters are handled by the appropriate military institutions.
- We have long been working with youth, dealing with strength-endurance training and other skills. Everything that is related to military training, weapons, and not only, can already be achieved at recruitment gun ranges. We have special force veterans here, who can explain to boys how to survive, how to dress a wound. Everything competitors need: how to survive and win - quotes his statement RIA Novosti.
Express training, then fighting in Ukraine
According to reports from the Russian news portal "Bumaga," the Andrejewskij Krest training center was established by Vladimir Khilchenko, a well-known Petersburg billionaire, who is also the head of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral. In the past, Khilchenko was a policeman and was convicted of corruption.
In December of last year, the Paper portal published information that it had spoken with the actual director of an organization conducting combat express training. From this conversation, it turned out that as part of a "private military company" they offer a three-day course costing 15 thousand rubles (around $195). After completing the course, many participants sign a contract and go to fight in Ukraine.
