The Security Service of Ukraine claims that the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church is creating its own "Orthodox PMCs" on the territory of the Russian Federation to recruit and train military personnel for the war in Ukraine.
The SBU believes that "a private military company called St. Andrew's Cross operates in the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral" and that recruitment is taking place right in the cathedral.
"Within the walls of the religious institution, its representatives recruit parishioners for further inclusion in the Russian occupation groups involved in the front line," the security service reports.
Recruiters prefer those who have already served in the military and have combat "experience," the SBU notes.
"Such PMCs are financed by representatives of the aggressor country's financial and industrial groups close to the Kremlin leader. The money is transferred to the accounts of the Russian Orthodox Church in the form of charitable contributions and donations for the construction of churches," the department said.
