Hundreds gathered at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on Monday to mourn Stanislav Orlov, aka “Spaniard,” founder of the far-right Española unit. The group consisted of football hooligans and neo-Nazi volunteers who fought for Russia in Ukraine. There was no official cause of death. Kremlin-linked sources and independent outlets reported Orlov was ambushed and shot by Russian security forces at his home in Crimea, not killed in battle. Anti-war outlet Astra released CCTV footage showing armed Russian servicemen arriving before gunshots and a six-hour delay before an ambulance took Orlov’s body. Analysts see Orlov’s death as part of a broader Kremlin crackdown on unruly ultranationalist militias after the Wagner group’s June 2023 rebellion against Putin. The Russian state had allowed such groups to fight and spread nationalism but clamped down after the mutiny threatened Moscow’s control. Española, active in major battles like Mariupol and Bakhmut, also blended into Russian sports culture, recruiting former athletes and displaying symbols at games. After October, Española disbanded and merged into Russia’s regular army. Orlov’s killing serves as a stark warning: radicals who break from state control will be eliminated, experts say. Few pro-war figures have spoken about his death. Española urged patience for an official investigation. Political analyst Andrei Kolesnikov noted the irony that Orlov was buried in one of Russia’s most sacred spaces, a place for state rituals. “Radical zealots are celebrated and mourned, but when they cross state lines, they can be eliminated.” The Kremlin applies this logic to all disobedient commanders, including the late Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. While Putin disowns them, he avoids erasing their legacy to keep their supporters quiet. The message to Russia’s fighters is clear: remember your role, but do not challenge state power.