In the annexed Sevastopol, former and current military personnel from the Marine Detachment of Major General Espanola were arrested on charges of illicit trafficking in weapons and explosives.
Kommersant newspaper reported that the case became known by the decision of the Military Court of the Southern District. Recently, the court refused to release one of the persons involved in the investigation from the pretrial detention center under house arrest. The defense argued that he pleaded guilty and entered into a plea deal.
It is not known how many people are involved in the case. The investigation is being conducted by the Main Military Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee.
According to the newspaper, investigators will have to identify “all accomplices in the crimes,” find caches of weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as interrogate witnesses, officials of the detachment and the volunteer body of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Espanola Marine Detachment, as follows from the Kommersant article, was created as part of cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the FSB Border Guard to protect the coast of the annexed Crimea from Ukrainian drone boats.
The brigade itself announced its dissolution in early October 2025. Some fighters joined the Ministry of Defense’s volunteer corps. Two months after its dissolution, the unit announced the death of its commander and commander Stanislav Orlov (call sign “Spanish”).
According to Astra, Orlov was shot at his home in Sevastopol. Sources from other Russian media claimed that he died in detention. They also linked Orlov to the arms smuggling case.
The Espanyol Brigade was formed mainly of football fans. Some of its fighters openly adhere to neo-Nazi views. The unit participated in the war with Ukraine.