The Center of Journalist Investigations discloses names of Russian citizens and Ukrainian collaborators who manage the project and contribute to the Russian war against Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Russian volunteer project \u00abArchangel\u00bb has been first mentioned by Russian mass media in October 2022. It has been small training initiative of Russian entrepreneur Mikhail Filippov in Ramenske village in Moscow region. Small center of drone operators was opened in Tver. Later the network suddenly \u00abexploded\u00bb: four centers were launched by the end of December 2022 and twelve \u2013 by October 2023. Instructors of \u00abArchangel\u00bb train everybody on the territory of Russia. But they focus only on Russian soldiers and volunteers joining BARS squads [squads of Russian reservists] in centers along the front line in Ukraine.<\/p>\n For example, currently they recruit volunteers who signed half a year contract of military service with so-called Russian \u00abvolunteer battalions named after Sudoplatov and Margelov\u00bb. These \u00abbattalions\u00bb are de jure squads of BARS. They fight in Southern Ukraine.<\/p>\n One year contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense is proposed for volunteers who would like to join \u00abbattalion of special mining \u00abFenix\u00bb. It seems that this first special battalion of drone-miners<\/a> has been created on the basis of engineering brigade of Russian Southern Military District in October 2023.<\/p>\n Financial sources and support of the Russian Ministry of Defense <\/strong><\/p>\n Video report of TV channel \u00abZverzda\u00bb [Star] of the Russian Ministry of Defense calls the network of \u00abArchangel\u00bb as the largest in Russia. Project manager Mikhail Filippov has been photographed with Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Popov and other senior officials of the Ministry.<\/p>\n Project \u00abArchangel\u00bb does not have the status of legal entity. Its financial support by the Ministry goes through the following channels.<\/p>\n The first channel uses regional offices of semi-governmental non-profit organization \u00abDOSAAF Rossii<\/strong>\u00bb [Volunteer Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation and Navy]. In December 2023, Russian Colonel General Kolmakov, the head of Russian DOSAAF, reported that almost four thousand drone operators have been trained by the network of DOSAAF. He was going to increase significantly the number of trainees and negotiate financial support from the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n The training program of drone operators takes two weeks. After graduation, students receive certificates from regional office of DOSAAF<\/a> about \u00abimproving qualification\u00bb within this sphere.<\/p>\n Training center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb in Melitopol. Photo: VK, 2023<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Training centers of \u00abArchangel\u00bb also work on the basis of regional offices of DOSAAF in occupied Crimea. We highlight the activity of its office in Yevpatoria below. We already disclosed the activity of Sevastopol office of DOSAAF when it received additional financial support of its courses \u00abYoung drone operator<\/a>\u00bb from Putin\u2019s Fund.<\/p>\n Other channels of financial support include military units of the Armed Forces of Russia on occupied territory of Ukraine (\u00abArchangel\u00bb established direct cooperation with them), funds of governors of subjects of the Russian Federation and Russian \u00abheads\u00bb of occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions who support squads of BARS.<\/p>\n On January 15, 2024, social media of the project reported that training would be increased by two times in occupied Southern Ukraine. The 35th<\/sup> Russian Army actively joined the project<\/strong>. Its focus of training is not on drone operators but on already deployed units of 2-3 drone operators. After completion of training, \u00abArchangel\u00bb will deliver drones as \u00abour soldiers should have something in their hands to fight\u00bb. The governor of Russian Amur region, where the 35th<\/sup> Army is headquartered, funded the premises and equipment for new training center of the 35th<\/sup> Army.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00abWe solved the issue with the 35th<\/sup> Army in systemic way. One group of soldiers is trained in the classroom; another one is trained to assemble drones; some people learn how to mine; other people go to the training ground. We will conveyer belt. The same approach is applied to exams, the receipt of drones and advance to the front line. Now we have the task to do the same with the 58th<\/sup> Army\u00bb, as writes representative of \u00abArchangel\u00bb in his comment to video<\/a> from new training center.<\/p>\n Mikhail Filippov, call sign \u00abArchangel\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n 47 years old Mikhail Gennadievich Filippov<\/strong> calls himself the father-founder of \u00abArchangel\u00bb project. He is registered in the Russian city of Litkarino in Moscow region (his detailed data can be found here<\/a>).<\/p>\n Filippov has been general director and founder of company \u00abML Constructions\u00bb since 2011 until 2019, in accordance with the Russian State Register of Legal Entities. The company has repaired apartments and houses, mostly, in regions around Moscow. Despite liquidation of the company, website of the company and Filippov\u2019s social media accounts have kept posting photos of completed contracts with contact data of Filippov as the manager.<\/p>\n At the same time, Filippov has cooperated with LLC \u00abKompania Otkrytoe nebo<\/strong>\u00bb [Company \u00abOpen Sky\u00bb], also registered in the Russian city of Litkarino. This company delivered services of air video and photo surveillance with the use of drones. That is how Filippov understood how drone technologies worked.<\/p>\n Mikhail Filippov, head of \u00abArchangel\u00bb project. Photo: telegram, 2023<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n In accordance with Russian investigative project \u00abImportant stories<\/a>\u00bb, \u00abOpen Sky\u00bb has been co-founded and managed by Andrei Klimenko. He also managed construction company \u00abLan-Kom\u00bb\u00a0 when it has been owned by Aleksandr Udodov, husband of sister of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. It is likely that Udodov has been single sponsor of \u00abArchangel\u00bb at its start, as Filippov once told about history of his project.<\/p>\n \u00abOpen Sky\u00bb planned to launch project \u00abOur people relaxing<\/a>\u00bb in Crimea in May-October 2022. It was going to provide air video footage of Crimean beaches and resort events, in order to promote Crimean resort areas and attract visitors. The project has been abandoned, and Filippov launched training center for \u00aboperators of death\u00bb.<\/p>\n \u00abCrimean drones\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n In May 2023, representatives of \u00abArchangel\u00bb searched premises for their training center in Simferopol or Sevastopol. At the end of the day, they selected<\/a> Yevpatoria when they met two local collaborators with call signs \u00abBomzh\u00bb [Homeless person] and \u00abBarin\u00bb [Baron]. They used local project set up on the basis of local office of DOSAAF \u2013 military training courses \u00abVeter\u00bb [Wind] and female drone operators \u00abKrylja vetra<\/a>\u00bb [Wings of wind]. The Center of Journalist Investigations highlighted their activity in its earlier reports.<\/p>\n The training center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb in Yevpatoria has been called \u00abCrimean Drone\u00bb. Russian mass media reported that its supervisor has been the man with call sign \u00abYevpatoria\u00bb. He has been always demonstrated with semi-hidden face. To our mind, Yevpatoria center has been managed by Simferopol resident Romanov Vitalii Mykhailovych<\/strong>, born in 1981 (his full date can be found here<\/a>). How did we identify him?<\/p>\n Telegram chat of the project mentions account with nickname @Bomondos as an account of the supervisor of Crimean center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb. This nickname has been used by acting account of Romanov in X media<\/a> (former Twitter). It has been also used by his old account in the online service for finding friends<\/a>. He created it when he studied in the university in Egypt. It is sufficient to compare his two photos \u2013 with semi-hidden and opened face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Supervisor of Crimean center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb with call sign \u00abYevpatoria\u00bb and Vitalii Romanov. Photo: screenshot of video \u00abKrym 24\u00bb and Facebook account of Romanov<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Romanov\u2019s accounts in social media inform that his native city is Simferopol and that he has studied<\/a> business administration in New York Technological University until 2003 and continued his studies in German University in Cairo.<\/p>\n In 2014, Vitalii Romanov registered<\/a> LLC \u00abViktorius group\u00bb in occupied Simferopol under Russian jurisdiction (with very wide business profile \u2013 from translation services to construction works). In 2015, Roman has been active participant of propagandist events \u00abCrimea is Russian land\u00bb in Moscow conducted to commemorate the anniversary of Russian occupation of Crimean peninsula.<\/p>\n Vitalii Romanov at the Moscow rally on anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea, 2015. Photo: Facebook<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Since 2016 Romanov has been sales director of company<\/a> Agrika International Inc., registered in USA, and its representative office in Moscow. The company imported frozen meat, fish and vegetables from US, Africa and Europe to Russia. By the way, name of Vitalii Romanov in Skype has been the same \u2013 Bomondos<\/a>. All senior managers of would be \u00abAmerican\u00bb company Agrika have been Russian citizens. It might indicate that the company has been used as cover company by Russian intelligence services. After Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine in 2002 and international sanctions, the company has been liquidated<\/a>. Vitalli Romanov came back to Crimea and drastically changed his activity.<\/p>\n Yevpatoria resident Putrenko Sergii Anatoliyovych<\/strong> with call sign \u00abBarin<\/a>\u00bb has been appointed as the director of \u00abCrimean Drone\u00bb project. We covered his activity in our previous reports. He headed female unit \u00abWings of wind\u00bb. Its representatives are among trainees of Crimean center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb. One trainee of \u00abFenix\u00bb is Russian woman who resided in Argentina and came back to kill Ukrainians.<\/p>\n Sergii Putrenko, head of drone school of \u00abArchangel\u00bb in Yevpatoria, 2023. Photo: Telegram<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Putrenko is the graduate of Russian High Engineering School of Rocket Troops in Krasnodar.<\/p>\n He has been general director of Ukrainian LLC \u00abChaika-M<\/a>\u00bb registered in Ukrainian city of Genichesk. 90% of the statutory capital of this company was owned by Ukrainian LLC \u00abAkkord-Finans\u00bb, the branch of Austrian company Garda Handels und Beteiligungs. The latter was reported as an important asset of Mykola Azarov<\/a>, ex-Prime-Minister under President Yanukovych who fled to Russia after the Revolution of Dignity.<\/p>\n As founder of \u00abArchangel\u00bb Mikhail Filippov told, Putrenko-\u00abBarin\u00bb rendered his hotel for training of drone operators and accommodation of trainees.<\/p>\n E-mail address of Putrenko led us to his hotel called \u00abVilla Marita<\/a>\u00bb and located in Zaozerne village near Yevpatoria. Its photos on the official website of the hotel coincide with video posted on telegram channel of \u00abArchangel\u00bb. We do not have doubts that \u00abVilla Marita\u00bb hosts training center and shop for assembling fpv-drones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hotel \u00abVilla Marita\u00bb in Zaozerne village where training center \u00abArchangel\u00bb is located<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n A man with call sign \u00abDoctor\u00bb has been often presented by Russian propaganda media as one of instructors of Yevpatoria center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb. Russian propagandists told that he came from region around Moscow; he carried humanitarian aid to Donbas and realized that Russian troops lacked technical specialists at the front line. He has given interview in balaclava and laughed: \u00abWe are secret people\u00bb.<\/p>\n We identified him. It is 40 years Russian citizen Yaroslavtsev Andrei Sergeevich<\/strong> (full data can be found here<\/a>).<\/p>\n In accordance with the Russian State Register of Legal Entities, Yaroslavtsev has been founder and manager of Moscow IT company \u00abPervaya pomosh bisnesu\u00bb [First Aid to Business]. It was liquidated in 2020. We found his old photo on archived website of the company and compared with his current photos in social media.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Andrei Yaroslavtsev, call sign \u00abDoctor\u00bb, instructor of Crimean training center \u00abArchangel\u00bb. Photo: 1c-helper.ru and OK<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n A volunteer community Osint Bees<\/a>\u00a0found out last summer that Andrei Yaroslavtsev with call sign \u00abBlack Doctor\u00bb worked in occupied Melitopol within Russian group \u00abRokot\u00bb helping occupants to assemble drones and supplying necessary equipment.<\/p>\n \u00abArchangel\u00bb and members of \u00abbattalion named after Sudoplatov\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n Center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb in Melitopol started training solders of squad BARS-32, known as \u00abbattalion named after Sudoplatov<\/a>\u00bb, in July 2023 on the basis of battalion. The battalion provided premises for training sessions, repairing shops, assembly of drones, equipped with 3D printers.<\/p>\n In February 2023, the battalion launched its own separate drone project \u00abSudoplatov. Judgment Day\u00bb<\/strong>. After successful tests of kamikaze drones, the initiative of private developers has been directly supported by the Russian Ministry of Defense \u2013 from production to supply and use. FPV-drones are assembled in seven production places. The largest part are drones VT-40, named in honor of collaborator Vladlen Tatarsky who helped to promote drones among Russian senior officials before his death.<\/p>\n Russian TV channel showed an interview with \u00abcommander of special group of the Russian Ministry of Defense\u00bb about the project. \u00abThe commander\u00bb told that the Ministry provided any assistance to the project \u2013 from resources to cutting red tape.<\/p>\n \u00abWe produce one thousand drones per day. They are immediately supplied to the front line\u00bb, as says \u00abthe commander\u00bb.\u00a0<\/p>\n Factory manufacturing FPV-drones of project \u00abSudoplatov. Judgment Day\u00bb<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n We emphasize that \u00abSudoplatov. Judgment Day\u00bb is the separate project, fully implemented under the supervision of the Russian Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n Russian mass media call a soldier with call sign \u00abPatriot<\/strong>\u00bb as the supervisor of \u00abArchangel\u00bb training center in Melitopol. It is possible that he serves in the military unit \u00abStorm V\u00bb. The Russian propagandist video shows chevron of \u00abStorm\u00bb on his right hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Supervisor of \u00abArchangel\u00bb center in Melitopol (left) gives chevrons of the center to trainees, 2023. Photo: Telegram<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n We have not yet identified \u00abPatriot\u00bb.\u00a0 We found that he was born in Russian region of Birobidzhan. He visited this region during his vacation and met with teenagers and students of medical college. Official website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported<\/a> about his meeting with members of \u00abYoung Army\u00bb, Russian analogue of Hitler-Jugend.<\/p>\n We identified one instructor and administrator of \u00abArchangel\u00bb center in Melitopol. It is Surkov Pavel Aleksandrovich<\/strong>, call sign \u00abPhilosopher\u00bb (his full data can be found here<\/a>).<\/p>\n Pavel Surkov, call sign \u00abPhilosopher\u00bb, instructor of the center of \u00abArchangel\u00bb in Melitopol. Photo: social media<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Surkov is the former member of Russian Air Forces and participant of scandalous financial pyramid \u00abLife is good\u00bb. The pyramid has been active in Russian and Ukraine. Russian scammers opened their office in Kyiv in 2017 and extorted 40 million USD from Ukrainians. The State Security Service of Ukraine uncovered<\/a> this scheme only last year.<\/p>\n Pavel Surkov in branded uniform of financial pyramid \u00abLife is good\u00bb, 2018. Photo: social media<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n In 2020, Surkov registered as individual entrepreneur. His business has been successful in the Russian public procurement. He won<\/a> 2,6 million Rubles within two years by supplying metalware etc. One third of his successful bids came from Russian military units and the Russian Guard. In May 2023, he stopped his business activity and went to occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region.<\/p>\n Recently, Filippov reported latest news about \u00abArchangel\u00bb in occupied Southern Ukraine. The project staffs its own mobile drone groups. They will travel along front line on armored vehicles. As he says, 80 people will be recruited and trained in Melitopol. Surprisingly, his video with these reports disappeared from project telegram channel.<\/p>\n Policeman-traitor as the head of \u00abbattalion named after Sudoplatov\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n While investigating \u00abArchangel\u00bb project, we identified the commander<\/a> of \u00abbattalion named after Sudoplatov\u00bb, with call sign \u00abShaman\u00bb. \u00abBattalion\u00bb has been\u00a0created<\/a>\u00a0upon the initiative of Yevhen Balytsky, the Russian \u00abhead\u00bb of occupied part of Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region.\u00a0At the very beginning of its existence, it has been legalized as \u00abthe state unitary enterprise<\/a>\u00bb of the Russian occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia region in the Russian Register of Legal Entities.\u00a0Now it is called BARS-32.<\/p>\n In February-June 2023,\u00a0Pogrebnyak Dmytro Tymofiyovych<\/strong>\u00a0has been its acting director (his Russian taxpayer\u2019s code 910217849658 was issued by Russian tax inspection in occupied Simferopol, the capital of Crimea).<\/p>\n As the Center for Journalist Investigations revealed, Dmytro Pogrebnyak is the Ukrainian citizen (Ukrainian passport # \u0412\u041a249020, Ukrainian taxpayer\u2019s code 3258800991). He was born in Luhansk region on March 22, 1989. Before the Russian occupation of Luhansk region in 2014, he has served as the sergeant in Luhansk rapid operational response unit \u00abSokil\u00bb of the Department to Fight Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.<\/p>\n Video of Russian propagandist Solovyov demonstrated him without balaclava and named him as Dmytro, with call sign \u00abShaman\u00bb. He told that he has been sent as the member of \u00abSokil\u00bb from Luhansk to Kyiv \u00abto pacify\u00bb the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014.<\/p>\n \u00abWe were given weapons; we occupied hills and protected assault squads which withdrew from Maidan. We evacuated our wounded people\u00bb, as told Pogrebnyak to propagandist Solovyov. It seems that he participated in covering so-called \u00abblack company of \u00abBerkut\u00bb<\/a>. This company has been involved into mass shooting of protesters at Instytutska street in Kyiv.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/investigator.org.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/znimok-ekrana-2024-01-24-102339.png\")
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