The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church for creating its own private military companies in the Russian Federation. On the instructions of the Moscow Patriarchate, these PMCs recruit and train mercenaries for the war against Ukraine.
This was reported by the SBU press service.
One such private military company is called St. Andrew’s Cross and is headquartered at the Kronshtadt Maritime Cathedral in St. Petersburg. In this church, clerics recruit parishioners to the ranks of the Russian invasion force.
After enlisting in the church PMC, mercenaries undergo a course of military-tactical and live-fire training from Russian special operations forces’ instructors. Training takes place at the cathedral premises and on specialized training grounds.
Representatives of financial and industrial groups close to the Kremlin provide financing for such PMCs. The money goes to the accounts of the Russian Orthodox Church in the form of charitable contributions and donations for the construction of churches.
The SBU is working to bring all those involved to justice.
