Vyacheslav Subbotin, known by the call sign “Vykhodnoy” and serving as the Head of Intelligence for the notorious Española battalion, has died amid conflicting reports about his death. The battalion, known for comprising neo-Nazis and football hooligans, finds itself at the center of speculation as it transitions under the control of Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Reports from sources within Española suggest Subbotin was killed during a combat operation, while Ukrainian accounts attribute his death to a vehicular accident involving alcohol. The discrepancy in the cause of death raises questions about internal dynamics within the Russian paramilitary groups and the Kremlin’s influence over these entities.
📦 успешно демобилизирован:
📦 начальник разведки бригады «Эспаньола» Вячеслав Субботин “Выходной”;
Смерть ворогам🔥
Telegram – https://t.co/GLExONwd4u pic.twitter.com/4DNNn1YDQj
— Анатолій Штефан (Штірліц) (@Shtirlitz53) March 3, 2024
Subbotin, previously involved with CSKA Moscow’s ultra-fan group and a member of the neo-Nazi Zarya-18, had transitioned from a football hooligan to a private military figure. His activities included organizing events glorifying nationalism and producing propaganda targeting children. The nature of his death, whether in combat or an accident, depicts the volatile environment in which these mercenary groups operate and the Kremlin’s intricate relationships with such factions.
The involvement of the Rotenberg brothers in the private military company (PMC) Española, as part of a broader trend of Russian oligarchs forming private armies, suggests a strategic realignment within Russia’s power structures. This development could hint at preparations for internal conflict or a consolidation of power amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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