On August 22, 2024, the Russian State Register of Legal Entities registered LLC «Archangel» with legal address in occupied Genichesk and main business profile – manufacturing of avia systems. Its founder is Valeria Valinkevich, singer from Krasnodar and graduate of drone school «Archangel» in Melitopol.
«Archangel» project is the network of Russian training centers preparing drone operators within 3-4 weeks. Their graduates must sign contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and participate in the war against Ukraine.
As the Center of Journalist Investigations (the CJI) revealed in its investigation, the network of «Archangel», headed by Michail Filippov, includes 15 training centers in Russia and in two Ukrainian cities of Yevpatoria and Melitopol, currently occupied by Russia. Centers also assemble drones and supply them to Russian troops, and pilot new models of drones.
See detailed description of «Archangel» and its managers in CJI’s investigation «Death operators. Drone project «Archangel».
25 years old Valeria Vitalyevna Valinkevich (call sign «Malykha»), the founder of LLC «Archangel», was born in Russia – in Komarovsky settlement in Orenburg oblast. As she said, she was born in the family of military. Her father, mother and grandmother served in the Russian \ Soviet Armed Forces. Now her family resides in Loris village (part of the municipal district of Krasnodar).
Valeria Valinkevich (left) at the song festival, 2022. Photo: social media
Valinkevich graduated from Krasnodar State Institute of Culture. She worked as choirmaster of the House of Culture and Leisure of Loris village. As the soloist of musical band «Razdolje», she participated in local and All-Russian song contests. She won in the nomination of contest «Kuban Cossack».
In October 2023, Valeria Valinkevich completed the training in the Center of military training «Kubanskaya sotnya» (it provides training on tactical medicine, shooting and operation of drones).
Since the beginning of 2024, Valinkevich has made performances for Russian troops in their places of stationing. She sang Russian patriotic songs, volunteered and raised money for drones.
Valeria Valinkevich (left) at the training in the Center of military training «Kubanskaja sotnya», 2023. Photo: ki-news.ru
Since March 2024, songs of Valinkevich have been posted on Telegram channel of «Archangel». She has been called «future voice of victory».
In June 2024, she and her friend – Russian drone operator with cal sign «Radio girl» – participated in conference «People’s Military Industrial Complex», organized by «Archangel».
In July 2024, Valeria Valinkevich was enrolled into the drone school of «Archangel» in Melitopol. As she suggested in her private telegram chat, she has been trained for trainer.
Valeria Valinkevich at the training in drone school «Archangel» in occupied Melitopol, 2024, Photo: social media
It is interesting that her husband Igor Valinkevich has not participated in the war against Ukraine. He keeps working in local Cossack association «Cossack Picket». His phone number has a tag «Igor Valinkevich Cavalry». His 2014 photos in social media show him as participant of Cossack events with horse racing.
Igor Valinkevich (left), Kuban cavalryman, 2014. Photo: khip.ru
Igor plays online computer games, posts video in YouTube. He is also an active «expert» in chats of Russian military propagandists.
38 years old Russian citizen Snigur Sevara Rustamivna is the General Director of LLC «Archangel» in occupied Genichesk. She was born in Seleznevsky settlement in Tambov oblast.
Current director of LLC «Archangel» Sevara Snigur in 2019 when she has been manager of shop. Photo: Facebook
She has worked as the director of shop of the 2nd category within the Russian network «Pyatyorochka». Before 2023, she has studied at the Department of Geography of Tambov State University. We failed to identify reasons of her movement to occupied territories of Ukraine and involvement into drone training.
LLC «Archangel» was registered in Russian jurisdiction in occupied Genichesk at the address – Portovy uzviz street, 6, building 14. According to Telegram channel Генічеськ.ua, it is the address of house of local collaborator Yevgenia Polyakova. She robbed Genichesk office of Ukrainian «New Post» and sold its assets.
Two agricultural companies of Lilia Mamaeva, collaborator from Donetsk, are registered at this address, too («Agrointegratsia-Yug» and «Everest»). She is a wife of Sergii Mamaev, trusted person of Russian «governor» of Kherson oblast Volodymyr Saldo. Together with «Vice Prime Minister» of Kherson oblast Vitalii Buluk and Crimean collaborator Borys Faingold, an advisor of Saldo, Mamaev disposes of assets stolen from Kherson farmers.
