Of the five precepts that all Buddhists are to follow, the first is "Avoid killing, or harming any living thing." And so it is that construction has begun on Russia's first Buddhist military temple. The military base where the dugan (temple) is being built not only approved the proposal, but enthusiastically supported it. Andrey Nikitin, a Russian Orthodox soldier, offered to help build the temple. Renewed interest in encouraging followers of Buddhism to feel at home in the military is indicative of Russian attempts to strengthen links between the military and religion more broadly, albeit less spectacularly than the Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces.