Stanislav Orlov, known by the nom de guerre “Spaniard,” was shot dead by masked security forces on December 4, according to Russian outlet ASTRA. Russian media kept news of his death under wraps for several days, ASTRA reported.
Orlov, who led the “Espanola” unit — described by critics as a neo-Nazi brigade formed from ultranationalist soccer ultras — is being memorialized in Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, drawing comparisons to the unresolved death of another Russian PMC leader, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, ASTRA said.
Unconfirmed rumors about Orlov’s disappearance began circulating in mid-December. Even “Espanola” has not publicly named a cause of death; the group has been formally dissolved and folded under Russia’s Defense Ministry, according to reports. The PMC had previously been linked to billionaire brothers Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, longtime associates of President Vladimir Putin.
ASTRA reports the unit set up a base in the “Flotsky” gardening cooperative in annexed Sevastopol, purchasing multiple plots there. Orlov’s “dacha” stood on one of them. On December 4, 2025, men in camouflage and masks allegedly stormed Orlov’s home and opened fire. Witnesses told ASTRA the former commander did not fire back.
Surveillance footage reviewed by ASTRA purportedly shows four vehicles arriving at 12:17 p.m. at House No. 51: a black SUV without plates, a UAZ, a sedan and a minibus with black-background license plates whose numbers are unreadable due to video quality. Men with rifles and masks exit the cars, and neighbors reported hearing several shots.
An ambulance arrived only six hours later, at 6:36 p.m., residents said, without sirens or lights. Medics carried out Orlov’s body and left at 6:45 p.m. Security personnel remained to conduct searches. It is still unclear which agency they represented.
The reported attempt to detain Orlov was allegedly tied to suspicions of arms trafficking and participation in organized crime.
Weeks earlier, Ruslan Kazantsev - a prominent “Espanola” member known by the call sign “Altai” and former commander of the group’s Maritime Detachment - was detained on similar charges and is now under arrest. Russian outlets such as Komsomolskaya Pravda had previously profiled him favorably. His maritime unit, described as Russia’s first “naval PMC,” was involved in coastal defense in occupied Crimea, including guarding gas platforms.
After Kazantsev’s arrest, security forces searched the “Avtolyubitel-2” garage cooperative on Astrakhanskaya Street in Sevastopol and found a suspected weapons cache linked to him, according to ASTRA. The weapons were allegedly moved from “Espanola’s” base in Chernomorskoye, a coastal settlement in western occupied Crimea.
Following Kazantsev’s arrest and Orlov’s reported killing, other “Espanola” members living in the Flotsky cooperative disappeared; some are believed to be on the run.
Orlov’s relatives learned of his death only a week later, ASTRA reported. His son, Igor Orlov, asked police to list his father as missing after last speaking with him on December 2. Orlov had reportedly planned to leave Sevastopol and return to Moscow in mid-December.
Orlov was among prominent Russian volunteer ultras who fought in eastern Ukraine on Russia’s side starting in 2014. He previously took part in the Second Chechen War. In 2014 he went to Crimea, where, alongside other soccer ultras, he took part in events that preceded Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula. He later went to Donbas, where he led the Horlivka reconnaissance unit “Skull and Bones” within Alexander Khodakovsky’s Vostok battalion. He was dubbed “Spaniard” for his foreign-language skills, including Spanish.
In spring 2022, Orlov formed “Espanola” — also referred to as the 88th reconnaissance and sabotage brigade — recruiting ex-combatants, far-right activists and soccer ultras. The group was reportedly financed by the Rotenberg brothers.
The UK sanctioned “Espanola” in November 2024.
In April 2025, “Espanola” described Ukrainian civilians as “legitimate targets,” drawing international condemnation.
In October 2025, the unit was abruptly ordered disbanded, with only an intelligence center called “Melodiya” left in place.
-On December 18, the group announced it no longer existed as a combat unit.
Focus has previously reported on “Espanola” and on well-known supporters of Orlov, including animal trainer Edgard Zapashny and former Russia national team footballer Andrei Solomatin.
There had also been numerous rumors about the PMC founder’s death, including claims he was killed in a shootout.
