Leader of Espanola Brigade Shot Dead in Crimea by Masked Gunmen

Stanislav Orlov, the leader of the Espanola brigade, known by the nickname Ispanets, was shot dead at his country house in annexed Sevastopol.

This was one of the most high-profile murders among Z-groups in recent times, ASTRA reports.

The incident occurred on December 4 in the Flotsky garden society, where Orlov had been living in the last weeks before his death.

Surveillance video captured the moment of the attack. At 11:17 a.m., four cars drove up to house 51.

Masked gunmen got out of the cars. The neighbors heard several shots. According to eyewitnesses, Orlov did not resist and did not shoot back.

Only six hours later, at 17:36, an ambulance arrived at the house. The medics took Orlov’s body out and left the area at 18:45.

Security forces remained at the site to conduct a search and collect evidence.

ASTRA’s sources among former Espanola fighters said that the reason for the attempted detention of Ispanets was suspicion of arms trafficking.

He was also charged with participation in an organized criminal group.

In the Z-community, Orlov is already being compared to the deceased leaders, Yevgeny Prigozhin and Motorola.

Orlov created the Espanola Reconnaissance and Sabotage Brigade, under the auspices of which hundreds of far-right extremists and neo-Nazis fought, in 2022.

The unit is known for its brutality against prisoners of war and civilians. In particular, the Espanola called for the ‘removal of genitals’ and ‘cutting off the lips to expose the jaw’ of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and only those who cooperate with the Russian army are considered civilians.