Russia Brings War Narrative to Europe Through “Immortal Regiment” Events in Spain

Russia-linked networks are using the “Immortal Regiment ” campaign in Spain to support Russian troops and promote narratives justifying the war against Ukraine.

According to European Pravda on April 28, 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.

According to European Pravda, such activities may amount to the illegal removal of Ukrainian cultural heritage. The report points to the case of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, whose extradition to Ukraine was approved by a Polish court in March 2026 over excavations conducted in occupied Crimea.

He was later released as part of a multi-country prisoner exchange, according to Rzeczpospolita on April 28.

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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