cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/8671182
Russia-linked networks are using the “Immortal Regiment ” campaign in Spain to support Russian troops and promote narratives justifying the war against Ukraine.
[The “Immortal Regiment ” campaign is a Russia-originated march where participants carry portraits of World War II veterans, presented as a tribute to historical memory. In recent years, it has been incorporated into state-backed campaigns and used to promote patriotic messaging aligned with the Kremlin, including narratives that support current war against Ukraine.]
According to European Pravda on April 28 (link to the article in Ukrainian language), organizers of the initiative in Spain—publicly presented as a civic movement to preserve historical memory—are involved in activities that include collecting aid for Russian military units and promoting pro-war messaging among local communities.
The report names Madrid-based coordinator Viktoriia Samoilova, who allegedly helped organize shipments of supplies to Russian military units deployed on occupied Ukrainian territory. In early 2025, aid was reportedly sent to a medical unit of Russia’s 25th brigade operating in the Kharkiv direction.
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European Pravda also describes the role of the Union of Organizations of Russian Compatriots in Spain and Andorra, known as SORS. Through this network, children in Spain have reportedly been involved in letter-writing campaigns addressed to Russian soldiers, with materials sent to the front through diplomatic channels.
Some groups linked to these networks operate as cultural or educational centers, while promoting narratives that portray Russia’s military doctrine as “defensive” and the invasion of Ukraine as a forced measure.
The investigation also cites cases of children from Spain being sent to the Artek camp in occupied Crimea, despite EU sanctions against the facility, as well as efforts to recruit people for archaeological work on the occupied peninsula.
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Financial support for some of these structures reportedly comes through Pravfond, a Russian state-linked foundation. On April 21, 2026, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on Pravfond and the media platform Euromore, identifying them as part of a pro-Kremlin information network targeting European audiences.
Earlier, similar “Immortal Regiment” activities were reported in the United States, where Russian nationals planned a march in Washington, DC, to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II. The event, featuring Soviet symbols and portraits of wartime relatives, was set to take place near the White House and include a procession to the World War II Memorial.
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