Muscovite Soldiers

From Srafopedia

Muscovite Soldiers are Muscovites, inhabitants of Muscovy. These soldiers are the fiercest warriors in Lyra's world and feature a number of times throughout HDM, always on the side of the Church. It was they who served Mrs. Coulter towards the end of Northern Lights, on Svalbard, and it was them who killed Lee Scoresby at Alamo Gulch and it was they who went first to side with Metatron. The army's total number was somewhere in the 100 thousands area.

It is unclear whether these Muscovites are mercenaries for the Church, or if the government of Muscovy is under Church control, or sending armies on a crusade. In any event, the Muscovites always seem to be under the direct control of the Church.