The symbol of the skull and crossed bones should not be considered exclusively pirate or negative. In pre-revolutionary Russia, this sign had a different meaning and was associated with one of the country's famous cavalry regiments. It was officially called the 5th Hussar Alexandrian Regiment of Her Imperial Majesty Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The soldiers of this regiment were called "Black" or "Immortal" hussars, and sometimes "Hussars of Death." Their symbol depicted a black Maltese cross and the head of Adam, which in Christian tradition symbolized liberation from death and salvation. The church associated such images with resurrection and eternal life, so this symbolism carried faith, hope, and courage in battle.

The hussars of the 5th Alexandrian Regiment were renowned for their bravery and agility, making them practically invulnerable to the enemy. They wore black uniforms and were considered the elite of the Russian cavalry. In their daily lives, there were many items featuring skulls.

According to legend, the nickname "Immortal Hussars" was given to the regiment during the war with Napoleon in 1812. It came from the German allied regiment "Hussars of Death." During one of the battles, a heavy rain made the Russian warriors so muddy that they became black from head to toe. German General Blücher mistook them for his own and praised them for their bravery. To this, Russian Prince Madatov replied that these were not his, but our "Immortal Hussars." Empress Alexandra Feodorovna preferred to refer to the regiment this way even in official documents.

Among the notable members of the regiment were Vladimir Petrushevsky, Nikolai Gumilev, and Konstantin Batyschkov, a distant relative of the famous poet. The regiment's day was celebrated on August 30, and even after the revolution, the hussars who found themselves in emigration continued to celebrate it abroad.