Arthur Tsibikov plans camel sacrifices to support Russian military

Arthur Tsibikov, the 53-year-old leader of the Angarsk-based organization Eternal Blue Sky, has announced plans to sacrifice 60 camels to seek support from Slavic gods for Russia's war in Ukraine. Tsibikov, who claims the title of Supreme Shaman of Russia, intends to begin a year-long marathon of monthly sacrifices starting in November 2026, offering five camels each month.

Tsibikov's claim to leadership is contested. While he was elected Supreme Shaman at a shamanic council in Angarsk in August 2026, many shamanic communities do not recognize his authority. He previously conducted a similar ritual in 2019 involving five camels, which drew criticism from animal rights activists and the Tengeri shamanic center in Ulan-Ude. The Tengeri center stated that camels are sacred animals to the Buryat people and that such sacrifices violate shamanic dogmas. Despite previous opposition, police declined to open a criminal case regarding animal cruelty during his 2019 ritual.