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    Matryoshka Sales, Russian War Financing, and a Belarusian Network Across European Churches Recent years have seen Belarusian nuns from the Saint‑Elisabeth Convent in Minsk offer matryoshka dolls, religious icons and honey at French churches and cathedrals. While the sisters frame these sales as charitable activity, they openly support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine and have participated in collections for Russian soldiers. The convent operates an orphanage caring for approximately two hundred children who have been abandoned owing to physical or mental disabilities. Additionally, sisters run a shelter located thirty kilometres from the mother house that provides aid to the homeless, alcoholics and drug addicts. In May 2023 the diocese of Paris announced a parallel “exhibition and sale” at Saint‑Léon, showcasing icons, handmade crafts, honey and herbal teas. Later that year the sisters offered their goods at the Celtic Orthodox Church in Saint‑Dolay, Brittany, holding the stall for several weeks during the summer—a setup later examined by Ouest‑France. During the summer the convent maintained a temporary booth in Les Sables‑d’Olonne near Nantes on France’s Atlantic coast, prompting an investigative report by Ouest‑France that highlighted ongoing fundraising activities for Russian forces. Continent‑wide network The convent’s outreach began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when sisters travelled unplanned routes, stopping at parishes, festivals and Christmas markets throughout Europe and asking permission to sell their products. In exchange, they were welcomed to charitable events. Since 2022 the convent has been engaged in dedicated fundraising campaigns that finance vehicles and equipment intended for the Russian military. These monetary flows are channeled through various entities and retail outlets that form part of a broader organizational structure. Vehicle and drone financing The StopSEM project, created by Christian Vision, tracks donations to Russian servicemen and has collected documentation of such operations. Some campaigns involve the network‑funded purchase of at least seven military vehicles for moving personnel and evacuating the wounded, as well as drones that were supplied through the same channel. When approached by the Polish‑based outlet Vot Tak in 2023, Sister Alexandra affirmed that her group was indeed supplying requested equipment to the army. Conversely, Vassilevitch reports that the convent actively encourages vulnerable individuals—such as former prisoners—to join the Russian forces, framing their narratives around heroic sacrifice to contrast with ordinary despair. A priest decorated by Putin Archpriest Andrei Lemeshonok, the spiritual father of the convent, has regularly defended Russia’s intervention. Beginning in 2022 he proclaimed that the monastery itself had become a “combat unit.” In May 2025 he was honoured by Vladimir Putin with the Pushkin Medal, a national distinction recognising support for the Russian language and culture abroad. At the Kremlin ceremony Lemeshonok likened his vocation to a pilgrimage toward Golgotha, emphasising a nationalistic sense of purpose. Question over visas Despite continued fundraising trips to France, external scrutiny rose. In 2023 the pastor of Les Sables‑d’Olonne, Father Antoine Nouwavi, initially refused to host the sisters after learning of their anti‑Ukrainian advocacy. He permitted their return after receiving correspondence from Mother Superior stating that accusations of weapons shipments were unfounded and that proceeds went solely to charitable goals. Nevertheless, the priest admitted he lacked the ability to guarantee the final destination of the donations. Christian Vision has alerted French church officials to the convent’s activities. Following Vassilevitch’s analysis, the organisation reported a steep decline in the willingness of other European congregations to accept the nuns. Other European nations have adopted tighter measures: Sweden’s church formally advised parishes to cease housing the nuns, and their stalls were either banned or shuts​ded down in Poland, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. In Germany, a Bundestag member called for an independent probe into the sect’s operations. Vassilevitch highlights the difficulty Belarussians face in obtaining Schengen visas as a sign of growing suspicion. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded generically, saying it possessed no additional information on the matter.

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    Thursday, October 1, 2026
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    Steve Clarke Weighs Formation Options Ahead of North Macedonia Tie

    Football
    Steve Clarke Weighs Formation Options Ahead of North Macedonia Tie

    The absence of the dismissed defender forces the manager to consider whether to abandon his preferred three‑at‑the‑back system.

    A tactical shift remains unlikely, regardless of whether North Macedonia opts for a two‑striker line, as seen against Switzerland, or a lone forward, as in Slovenia.

    The coaching staff are keen to let the system settle after it was abruptly interrupted by Hendry’s early dismissal, which disrupted the planned alignment.

    Stephen Welsh of Swansea City, who started the Slovenia match, entered early in Tuesday’s fixture, while Scott McKenna of Dinamo Zagreb completed the full 180 minutes across both games, enhancing their reputations.

    Luis Binks earned his first cap against Switzerland and looked comfortable in his new role.

    Luke Graham, who has yet to represent Scotland, could seize this chance to make his debut after joining Stoke City in the summer transfer window.

    Aaron Hickey’s injury history precludes a full involvement in back‑to‑back fixtures, though he may be rested for the Swiss encounter and could return later.

    BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound pundits have called for Aaron Hickey to shift to right‑centre‑back, clearing space for the energetic winger Ben Gannon‑Doak.

    That arrangement would likely see Torino’s Nathan Patterson drop from the right wing‑back position after a difficult night against Switzerland’s strong forward line.

    On the opposite flank, captain Andy Robertson was substituted for Sassuolo’s Josh Doig in the final 15 minutes of Tuesday’s loss, though further rest for the Tottenham Hotspur player in Skopje appears unlikely.

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