The Orthodox Crusade
An academic analysis of the Russian Orthodox Army, a pro-Russian separatist militia defined by its extremist ideology, military operations, and human rights abuses in the Donbas War.
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Origins & Composition
Formation and Purpose
The Russian Orthodox Army (ROA) was a pro-Russian separatist paramilitary group that emerged in 2014 during the initial phase of the War in Donbas. It was one of several militias formed to fight against Ukrainian forces, operating primarily in the Donetsk Oblast. The group's existence was short-lived, as it was later absorbed into the larger military structure of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
Leadership and Affiliations
The ROA was publicly led by Pavel Gubarev, a key figure in the early Donbas insurgency who also served as the "People's Governor" of the DPR. Gubarev and other central figures were linked to the ultranationalist political movement Russian National Unity (RNU). While the exact command structure remains debated, the ROA operated under the RNU's influence and swore allegiance to Igor Girkin ("Strelkov"), the then-Minister of Defence for the DPR.
Strength and Capabilities
Estimates of the ROA's size varied significantly. Russian media sources claimed a strength of up to 4,000 fighters, whereas eyewitness accounts suggested a more modest number, around 500. Its members generally lacked specialized military training, with their experience limited to standard conscription service. The group's headquarters was established in the occupied Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) building in the city of Donetsk.
Ideological Framework
Extremist Orthodoxy & Nationalism
The ROA's identity was built on a foundation of militant Russian Orthodox extremism and fervent Russian nationalism. The group was described as "pro-Tsarist," seeking to revive a vision of the Russian Empire intertwined with a specific, radical interpretation of the Orthodox faith. This ideology positioned their fight not just as a political or territorial conflict, but as a holy war for the "Russkii Mir" (Russian World).
Targeted Hostilities
A core component of the ROA's ideology was its explicit hostility towards other groups. This manifested as:
- Anti-Ukrainian Sentiment: A rejection of Ukrainian statehood and national identity.
- Anti-Catholicism & Anti-Protestantism: Viewing these Christian denominations as alien, Western influences corrupting the Orthodox sphere.
- Anti-Semitism: The group was also linked to anti-Semitic acts, aligning with broader ultranationalist tropes.
Connection to Russian National Unity
The ideological underpinnings of the ROA are directly traceable to organizations like Russian National Unity (RNU). Pavel Gubarev himself claimed leadership of the Donetsk RNU section and stated the ROA was organized by the RNU under his control. This connection situates the ROA within a wider network of Russian far-right, irredentist movements that played a significant role in fomenting the 2014 conflict.
Military Operations & Conflicts
Key Engagements
The Russian Orthodox Army's most notable military activities occurred in June 2014. The group participated in armed skirmishes against Ukrainian forces in the strategic port city of Mariupol and in the surrounding Amvrosiivka Raion. These engagements were part of the initial, chaotic phase of the war, where various militia groups vied for control of key territories in the Donbas region.
Allegiance and Command
Operationally, the ROA's fighters swore an oath of allegiance to Igor Girkin, a Russian citizen and former FSB officer who was the commander of the separatist forces in Sloviansk and the self-proclaimed Minister of Defence of the DPR. This highlights the centralized command, at least nominally, under which disparate militia groups like the ROA operated during the early stages of the insurgency.
Internal Strife
The ROA's activities were not without internal friction. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the group came into conflict with the Vostok Battalion, another prominent pro-Russian militia. The Vostok Battalion accused the ROA of being unreliable, engaging in looting, and actively avoiding direct combat, revealing the tensions and rivalries that existed among the various separatist factions.
Religious Persecution & Abuses
Systematic Targeting of Religious Minorities
The ROA, along with other separatist groups, has been widely accused of engaging in severe religious persecution. Their actions included the kidnapping, beating, and threatening of Protestants, Catholics, and members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. These groups were targeted based on the ROA's extremist ideology, which viewed them as enemies of the "true" Russian Orthodox faith and agents of Western influence.
Abduction of Clergy
The group gained international attention in late November 2014 for the abduction of prominent religious figures. They kidnapped Sergeii Kulbaka, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest, and Father Pawel Witek, a Roman Catholic priest. These acts were clear demonstrations of their anti-Catholic stance and were intended to intimidate and suppress religious communities that did not align with their worldview.
The Sloviansk Massacre
The ROA was implicated in the brutal massacre of four Protestant church members in Sloviansk in June 2014. The victims, two deacons and two sons of the church's pastor, were abducted from a service and later found murdered. Church officials and investigators believe the act was motivated by religious hatred, with the perpetrators associating Protestants with 'US agents'—a narrative consistent with the ROA's anti-Western and extremist ideology.
Dissolution & Legacy
Absorption into DPR Forces
The Russian Orthodox Army's tenure as a distinct entity was brief. By September 2014, as the separatist forces in Donetsk began to formalize their military structures, the ROA was disbanded and its members were absorbed into the newly formed Oplot Fifth Separate Infantry Brigade. This move was part of a broader effort to consolidate the various disparate and often unruly militias under a more centralized command within the 1st Army Corps of the DPR.
Historical Significance
The ROA remains a significant case study in the dynamics of the early Donbas War. It exemplifies the potent and dangerous fusion of religious extremism with ultranationalist political goals. The group's documented actions, particularly its campaign of religious persecution, highlight the severe human rights abuses that characterized the conflict and underscore the role of radical, non-state actors in the broader Russo-Ukrainian War.
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References
References
- See Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
- Laruelle, M. (2019). Russian Nationalism: Imaginaries, Doctrines, and Political Battlefields. United Kingdom: Routledge. (p. 206)
- Laruelle, M. (2019). Russian Nationalism: Imaginaries, Doctrines, and Political Battlefields. United Kingdom: Routledge. (p. 208)
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