Atlantico: In Moscow, families of mercenaries killed in the latest attack in Syria are demanding an explanation from the Kremlin. What is the nature of these mercenaries' connections with the central government?
Alain Rodier: As a rule, mercenaries working directly or indirectly for the state are never recognized by the latter. Bob Denard was one of the "corsairs of the Republic" that Paris used for some time on the African continent.
However, these mercenaries - called "contractors" - serving in PMCs are completely uncontrolled by the governments that fund their services. Indeed, PMCs have their own hierarchy, often decentralized. This leads to such companies being able to act on their own initiative, which can have disastrous consequences.
The Americans learned this well in Iraq through the example of the famous Blackwater company, founded by Erik D. Prince. His company indulged in numerous abuses, some of which, however, were condemned by justice. On the other hand, information leaks confirmed Prince's involvement with the CIA as an occasional agent. To summarize, it is worth saying that all countries use PMCs today.
However, it should be remembered that, in theory, mercenaryism is prohibited by the UN, and anyone who wants to engage in this craft should know that he can be put on trial upon returning home, even if he defended a “just cause.” In particular, the British volunteers who fought alongside the Kurds are now beginning to understand this. In France, justice applies this law to French volunteers who decided to help the Kurds in Syria and Iraq.
As a rule, volunteers refuse to call themselves "mercenaries" because they claim to be acting out of conviction (far right or far left - it depends on the theater of war). They prefer to call themselves “internationalist warriors.” Today, fighters who consider themselves to be part of the PMC were photographed with weapons in hand along with Kurdish fighters from the SDF. For them, this is something like their “Spanish War”!
In Russia, employees of the PMC Moran Security Group, which recruited more than 200 volunteers to be sent to Syria in 2013, were sentenced to three years in prison. On the other hand, none of the hired volunteers were prosecuted.
In Moscow, PMCs fighting under the Russian flag are prohibited, but this is nothing, they are registered in foreign countries. The Wagner company, which all the media are now talking about, has about 7 thousand fighters in Syria and is registered in Argentina. The “Slavic Corps”, also taken to Syria in 2013, has its headquarters in Hong Kong. But this does not prevent these PMCs from having representative offices (in particular, recruitment centers) in Moscow.
Evil tongues claim that training in these PMCs can take place in Russian military camps, which is quite possible. What country has not done the same with foreign soldiers... Morality has nothing to do with the realpolitik practiced in almost all countries. To end the fantasy, mercenaries are generally well paid, but nothing more. Most of them are former military personnel, and salaries of specialists and former officers can reach up to $4,000 per month. In Russia, a draft law is being discussed to legalize PMCs, which would lead to social protection for their members.
What is the task of mercenaries in various operations in Syria?
The main missions of PMCs in Syria are similar to those of their Western counterparts in other countries such as Afghanistan or Libya (usually these countries request that companies hire local employees). This is not about offensive operations, but about protecting weak points. Many diplomatic missions and private companies use their services to ensure the security of their buildings, escort convoys, and train local military and police.
Essentially, it is “economically” more profitable for the state to use PMCs for short- or medium-term missions than government employees. Military and police officers are government employees and must be paid for the remainder of their service, as well as pensions or severance pay. They are temporary participants in hostilities, working under a fixed-term employment contract. The difference between them and professional soldiers, most of whom also have fixed-term contracts, is that they are hired for a certain number of years after signing the contract. Mercenaries are often hired for the duration of a specific operation.
If we talk about the incident in Syria on February 7, then most likely we are talking about the fact that members of the PMC (presumably belonging to the Wagner company) were asked to accompany Syrian militias who were supposed to seize oil fields located in this area, that is, to the east from the Euphrates to Deir ez-Zor. The deposits, which, after being abandoned by IS militants (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation - editor's note), came under the control of the SDS, the armed wing of the Americans in Syria.
Damascus's goal is to return these sources of currency, and Washington, which still wants to overthrow Assad, wants to prevent this at all costs in order to continue to strangle the country's economy. The so-called attack on the SDF command post was the perfect pretext to cut off access to this petrochemical structure. Essentially, after the operation, Wagner only had to monitor the technical structures. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It must be admitted that Damascus took an unjustified risk by invading territory east of the Euphrates, which is actually under American control. Washington is trying to create an “independent” zone here as a counterweight to the Russian and Iranian presence west of the Euphrates and to weaken the regime. But, frankly, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denied rumors that this attempt was made in “collusion” with the Russian command. There appears to have been a misunderstanding between the Russians, who seemed unaware of what was being prepared, and the Americans, who saw no Russians in the attacking troops and who, as usual, began shooting indiscriminately.
Even if an attack that killed 30 Russian mercenaries was only tangentially related to Russia, should Moscow be expected to respond to an American attack?
The death toll has not yet been confirmed at this time. Even the well-known Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London, which “has many informants in Syria” and whose data is systematically referred to by the media, is silent. The official representative of the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, admitted that five Russian citizens were killed. The biggest pessimists talk about 200 - 600 killed, which, in my opinion, is too exaggerated.
As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle, and your estimate of “thirty” killed may be quite close to reality.
But this does not mean that there will be clashes between Russians and Americans, since we are talking about a “private company” not officially funded by Moscow.
However, the Russians are really “angry” and, in response, they are asking the Americans to evacuate the al-Tanf military base in southeastern Syria, otherwise a “sad incident” may occur.
In practical terms, the use of PMCs in Syria is beneficial for Moscow, because it allows the number of killed mercenaries not to be included in official statistics (about 40 dead, including two senior officers since September 2015). Since the beginning of 2017, Russian PMCs have lost more than a hundred volunteers. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, they provide missions that the regular army does not perform due to lack of sufficient manpower: security, escorting convoys, protecting people or weak points. Note that they are often paid by wealthy Syrian tycoons to protect their interests and avoid direct orders from Moscow.
The story of the dead mercenaries is being used in connection with the Russian presidential campaign to challenge “candidate” Putin by asking him to reveal by March 18 what is really happening in Syria. Grigory Alekseevich Yavlinsky, who is Putin's rival in the upcoming elections, asked for clarification regarding the assistance provided by the PMC and the awards given to some of its members. He is also interested in Putin's connections with Dimitri Utkin, a former Russian intelligence officer who heads the Wagner company. I wonder if the Americans are interfering in the Russian election campaign in this way? (joke)
And in conclusion, I would like to say: mercenaries have always existed (the most famous of them are from the Swiss Guard), and their number will grow, because we are witnessing a kind of privatization of war and security. And this is more economically beneficial for governments.
journalistRussia is increasing its military presence in Syria. This is evidenced by the transfer of the latest Russian aircraft to the region, as well as the large-scale recruitment of mercenaries, which began almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. All this indicates that, contrary to official statements, the Russian Federation is being drawn deeper and deeper into the Syrian conflict, involving Ukrainian citizens in it.
The coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Dmitry Tymchuk, announced the beginning of large-scale recruitment of mercenaries for Russian private military companies. IP specialists studied the Russian labor market using job advertisement sites and saw a large number of vacancies called “facility security guard.” People are recruited to work on a rotational basis for a period of three months.
All advertisements of this kind, for example, on the website avito.ru, are of the same nature. The responsibility of the candidates is “armed security and ensuring the security of the territory of facilities in various regions.” They are required to be in good physical condition, and “experience of working in hot spots” is a plus. “All military specialties (military specialties - ed.) are considered... Work in a large Russian company with a friendly team,” the advertisements specifically specify. Candidates are promised “accommodation, work clothes, uniforms, food,” as well as a high salary - 80 thousand rubles (about 38 thousand UAH). This recruitment is taking place in at least 24 regions of Russia - starting from Moscow and St. Petersburg and ending with the Trans-Baikal and Primorsky Territories.
According to Tymchuk, the requirements for candidates - good physical fitness, experience working in hot spots, the presence of military specialties, as well as a salary that is significantly higher than the market average for such specialists - indicate that people are being recruited to a combat zone. There are, however, a few vacancies where security guards are paid even more. For example, to work in the harsh conditions of the city of Norilsk, they offer a salary of 84 thousand rubles. But to work in Norilsk, a license to conduct security activities is required, but when hiring in a combat zone, there is no such requirement. In addition, recruiters for Syria do not indicate the name of the organization that is recruiting (only contact persons are listed in the advertisements). As Tymchuk points out, these two facts also indicate that we are talking about recruitment into the ranks of Russian PMCs fighting in Syria. The fact is that mercenary activity is a criminal offense in Russia - that is why recruiters operate semi-legally.
It is worth noting that the job advertisement was posted on February 20th. A . Apparently, urgent recruitment is needed in order to make up for these losses.
As Tymchuk noted, the losses of the Wagnerites force the occupation authorities in the militant-controlled territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions to hastily form two “Syrian” battalions from among local residents. However, the recruitment of Syrian “cannon fodder” in Donbass is most likely not carried out on the Internet. Although in Donetsk, you can use advertisements to get a job in a “patrol service regiment.” Candidates are required to have a desire to “serve the republic,” experience in the armed forces and “militia,” no criminal record, good physical fitness, height of at least 175 centimeters and age under 35. The “lucky ones” are promised to be paid a salary starting from 11 thousand rubles (about 5.2 thousand UAH).
And in the illegal “LPR” they are recruiting for “service” in the so-called “people’s militia”. Financial conditions here are a little better - from 15 thousand rubles (about 7.2 thousand UAH)
In addition to the unofficial recruitment of mercenaries, Russia is strengthening its air wing in Syria, operating at the official invitation of President Bashar al-Assad. So, on February 21, 4 Su-35S fighters, 4 Su-25 attack aircraft and an A-50 early warning aircraft arrived at the Khmeimim airbase, where Russian aircraft are located. On the same day . Two more Su-57s arrived in Khmeimim on February 23.
This aircraft is a promising fifth-generation Russian development. It is believed that it should compete with the serial American fifth-generation fighters F-22 Raptor and F-35. This machine still exists in prototypes. However, the Russians have not yet created a new engine for their “drying”, in fact using on the plane the unit that was on the old Su-27. That is why the Su-57 cannot yet be considered a full-fledged fifth-generation aircraft.
Let us recall that on December 11, 2017, Russian President Vladimir. Now aviation is being returned again, on the contrary, strengthening the Russian group. All this, as well as the secret recruitment of mercenaries, indicates that Russia is plunging deeper and deeper into the Syrian conflict, involving Ukrainian citizens in it and misleading the international community about its participation in this war.
Denis Popovich, specially for “Word and Deed”
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Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption In Syria, fighters from Russian private military companies are diplomatically called consultants
For several days now, reports have been coming from Syria about the possible defeat of a detachment of Russians from the so-called private military company (PMC) Wagner. At the same time, the Kremlin does not confirm this information, and when asked by a journalist whether Russia plans to declare mourning, they answered that they do not understand why it should be declared.
The Russian BBC service tried to figure out whether Russians really died in Syria after an American strike on February 7, for whom they worked and what they did in the zone of American military presence.
What happened on February 7?
According to the most common version, on February 7, 2018, a detachment, which may have included Russians, tried to occupy an area in the province of Deir ez-Zor near the Euphrates. The area is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed rebel group.
The head of the US Air Force Central Command, Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian, gave a press conference at the Pentagon on February 13, during which he detailed the American version of what happened that day.
According to the general, on the evening of February 7, the international coalition led by the United States was defending itself, and American military advisers were helping Syrian rebels fight off “an unprovoked and coordinated attack on their positions from across the Euphrates River.”
The general said that before the attack the enemy carried out artillery preparations, which included tanks, mortars, rocket and cannon artillery. Under the cover of this shelling, a force of approximately a battalion moved into position.
At that moment, Harrigian said, there were aircraft in the air, including MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicles and F-22 fighter jets, which performed reconnaissance and patrol functions.
According to the general, the Americans immediately contacted representatives of the Russian command in Syria and told them about the attack. He did not disclose the details of the negotiations, as well as their results and the reaction of the Russian military, noting only that operational negotiations with the Russian group are ongoing.
After this conversation, the general continued, the coalition launched a strike against the attackers, which included F-15E fighters, MQ-9 drones, B-52 strategic bombers, AC-130 heavy attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
The general described the air strikes as targeted and said that several artillery systems and tanks were destroyed as a result. After that, said Jeffrey Harrigian, the attackers retreated. He said he did not know who was in the attacking group or whether there were Russian citizens there.
In turn, various Russian and foreign publications claim that Russians were there and that from 11 to several hundred of them died.
How is Russia reacting?
The Kremlin refuses to comment on this incident - formally, fighters from private military companies are not under the control of the Russian authorities, including the Russian Ministry of Defense. The latter, however, stated that 25 Syrians were injured as a result of the raid, but there were no casualties among the Russians.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, no one attacked the US-backed rebels: the Syrian militias, covered by an American strike, allegedly carried out an operation against a “sleeper cell” of the extremist group “Islamic State,” whose activities are banned in Russia and other countries.
At the same time, the department emphasized that the militias that came under attack from the coalition did not coordinate their operation with the command of the Russian task force.
“I didn’t understand the point, why should mourning be declared?” - the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, in turn, answered reporters when asked whether the Russian authorities are planning to honor the memory of the Russians allegedly killed in Syria.
Did the Russians really die?
The Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) research group has released the names of seven alleged Russian Wagner PMC fighters who, according to its data, died in the February 7 airstrike.
According to data found on the network, these are Alexey Ladygin from Ryazan, Stanislav Matveev and Igor Kosoturov from Asbest in the Sverdlovsk region, Ruslan Gavrilov from the village of Kedrovoye in the Sverdlovsk region, Vladimir Loginov from Kaliningrad, Alexey Shikhov from Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir with the call sign "Apostle" (surname unknown ) and Kirill Ananyev from Moscow.
The latter, until 2009, was a member of the National Bolshevik Party, whose activities were banned in Russia by the court. His death in Syria was confirmed to the BBC Russian Service by the co-chairman of the unregistered Other Russia party, Alexander Averin.
The death of Vladimir Loginov and Igor Kosoturov was confirmed to the BBC Russian Service by their close relatives. The death of Stanislav Matveev was confirmed to the RBC agency by his cousin Igor Patsko. The dates of the deaths of the Russians coincide with the date of the American strike.
Relatives of the other Russians mentioned by CIT have not yet confirmed their deaths.
What were they doing there?
The head of the US Air Force Central Command, Jeffrey Harrigan, during a speech in Qatar, said that the attack on the positions of the Syrian Democratic Army and the US coalition on the evening of February 7 was initiated by “unknown hostile forces”, and the return fire was dictated by self-defense tasks.
According to the Kommersant newspaper, the cause of the incident was an attempt by large entrepreneurs supporting the regime of Bashar al-Assad to seize the oil and gas fields of the Kurds, allies of the United States. To this end, pro-government tribal formations went on the offensive, and the so-called ISIS Hunters, reinforced by fighters from the Wagner PMC, were in the second echelon. Both of them came under attack, an unnamed source told the publication.
A Moskovsky Komsomolets source in Syria also claims that the Syrians, together with Russian mercenaries, allegedly decided to seize the plant from the Kurds in the American presence zone: “There were three companies of private traders and a Syrian militia. The first line of Kurds and Americans was demolished quite quickly, even too easily. Then aircraft, drones and helicopters arrived, and they were hammered for four hours.”
The publication also gives another version: the allegedly shot column counterattacked fighters of the extremist organization “Islamic State,” whose activities are banned in Russia and many other countries. They retreated towards the CONOCO oil refinery, where a secret US base could be located.
“I don’t understand what they were counting on,” said the interlocutor of Moskovsky Komsomolets. “They attacked the Americans with only Kalash guns. But it was a purely commercial topic. It has nothing to do with the war.”
What is the point of PMCs?
“This [private military companies] is a tool for realizing national interests without the direct participation of the state,” Vladimir Putin said in 2012, when he was offered to legalize PMCs. The Prime Minister then promised to think about this issue and, it seems, is still thinking about it.
"Wagner PMC" is an informal military organization that allegedly took part in hostilities in the Donbass (on the side of the self-proclaimed republics) and in Syria (on the side of the Assad government). The online newspaper Fontanka first reported on the activities of this PMC in the fall of 2015.
According to the publication, entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin may be behind the PMC. Companies close to him win contracts to serve the Russian army. The Euro Policy company, allegedly associated with Prigozhin, allegedly entered into an agreement with the regime of Bashar al-Assad, according to which it receives a quarter of the oil in the territory recaptured from the Islamic State.
Illustration copyright AFP Image caption The civil war in Syria has been ongoing since the spring of 2011In 2017, Syrian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem confirmed planned cooperation with Russia in the oil and gas sector, as well as a meeting with Russian oil companies operating in Syria.
Ghanem estimated daily production in territory controlled by the Syrian government at 8 thousand barrels of oil and 9 million cubic meters of gas. For comparison: Russia annually produces more than 10 million barrels of oil and more than 600 billion cubic meters of gas.
How are PMCs connected to the Russian state?
As Fontanka and CIT asserted, employees of the Wagner PMC have no connection with any official power structure of Russia, but received military orders and medals for their combat work.
Former Wagner PMC fighter Nikolai S. told the Investigations Management Center that there is nothing private in this unit. “PMCs from large landing ships do not land with equipment. This is a real army. The group strictly carries out the tasks set by the Russian command. And the stupid name of the PMC was invented by journalists. You might think that we could be hired to guard a dacha or a yacht,” the source said.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, 95% of the members of the Wagner PMC who fought in this country are citizens of Russia. “As a rule, these are former special forces, GRU officers, paratroopers,” said SBU head Vasily Gritsak.
Illustration copyright MIKHAIL METZEL/TASS Image caption Evgeny PrigozhinIn 2016, the leaders of PMC Wagner allegedly attended a reception with President Vladimir Putin - photo from the meeting. In the photo next to Putin stands the supposed founder of this structure - Dmitry Valeryevich Utkin (call sign Wagner), a reserve lieutenant colonel who previously served as commander of the 700th separate special forces detachment in the 2nd special forces brigade in the Pskov region.
Why is everyone silent about PMCs?
Moscow denies that employees of Russian private military companies are fighting in Syria. According to official data from the Ministry of Defense, Russian combat losses in the republic during the entire campaign amounted to about 40 people. According to Reuters estimates, 131 Russian mercenaries died in Syria in 2017 alone (the agency notes that this figure does not take into account military personnel).
In the absence of a law regulating the activities of PMCs, the only legal norm relating to the participation of Russian volunteers in military operations abroad is Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code - “Mercenarism”. For two leaders of the “Slavic Corps” (the first incarnation of “Wagner PMC”), Vadim Gusev and Evgeny Sidorov, the trip to Syria ended in criminal cases and sentences with real terms.
At the end of 2014, the State Duma rejected the draft law “On Private Military Security Companies,” introduced through the Duma Committee on Defense by deputies Gorovtsov, Shein, and Nosovko. However, on February 14, the Head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Vladimir Shamanov, announced a new bill on PMCs. According to him, the document has been sent to the government for feedback.
Mark Bennetts provides details of Russian mercenaries believed dead in Syria.
“Igor Kosutorov (sic; probably Kosoturov. - Note ed.) was not an active serviceman in the Russian army. But relatives of the 45-year-old grocery store owner believe he is among dozens of Russian citizens killed near Deir ez-Zor this month in a US-led coalition airstrike.
After initial denials, the Russian Foreign Ministry admitted on Thursday that five citizens were likely killed in a bombing while fighting alongside Syrian "pro-regime" forces on February 7. However, 200 Russian citizens were reportedly killed, Bennetts notes.
While there is no certainty with the numbers, portraits of those considered dead are emerging. “Some were battle-hardened veterans of Moscow's war in eastern Ukraine, who had gone to Syria out of patriotism or a renewed sense of Russian nationalism. Others were simply counting on a lucrative salary,” the article says.
“Igor Kosutorov’s ex-wife Nadezhda, who lives in Asbest, told The Guardian in a telephone interview: “Igor was a former army sniper. He went to Syria because he was a patriot. He believed that if we do not stop the Islamic State* in Syria, they will come to us, to Russia. He told me: if he doesn’t go, the authorities will send boys who have almost no military experience,” the publication reports.
Igor did not tell her who organized the trip to Syria; she learned about his death from unofficial sources. “I am collecting information from different sources and trying to find out where the bodies of the dead may be,” Nadezhda said. Asked why Russian authorities had not contacted her, she sighed: “It’s a political game that I don’t understand.”
“In addition to Kosutorov, at least nine people are believed to have traveled to Syria from Asbest and the surrounding area in recent months to fight alongside Wagner,” the article says. The newspaper quotes the words of Elena Matveeva, the widow of the 38-year-old mercenary from Asbest Stanislav Matveev, who is considered dead: “They were sent to battle just like pigs.”
“Wherever they were sent, they had no protection,” she said in an interview with Radio Liberty. According to her, the Russian authorities should pay tribute to the citizens who died in battles in Syria: “There should be something in memory of them, so that wives are not ashamed of their husbands, and their children can be proud.”
Officially, the average salary in Asbest is about 25 thousand rubles. The monthly salary of Wagner employees in Syria ranges from 90 thousand for a private to 250 thousand for a military specialist, said the founder of the Conflict Intelligence Team, an investigative group, Ruslan Leviev.
Critics say the Kremlin's reluctance to acknowledge the Russian deaths, let alone honor them, stands in stark contrast to the funeral of pilot Roman Filipov, who was shot down over Syria. “Some receive medals and honors, while others are quietly buried and forgotten,” another woman named Nadezhda told The Guardian. According to her, her husband, who fought in Syria as a mercenary, died in October.
“Other Russians reported to have died in the February clash include Kirill Ananyev, a member of the radical leftist Other Russia party,” the newspaper reported. “He went to Syria because he liked fighting. The Russians are good at this,” said the movement’s press secretary, Alexander Averin.
"Despite the anger of relatives, some defend Putin's reluctance to make details of the dead public," Bennetts said. Writer Alexander Prokhanov, believed to be close to senior Russian security officials, said: “The authorities have the right to suppress information in the interests of the country. These people who died were warned before going to Syria that there would be no military honors if they died.”
Russian private military companies (PMCs) are increasingly discussed in the press, but their activities are not only shrouded in secrecy - they are still not legalized. This situation outraged the head of the committee of the All-Russian Officers' Assembly, the ataman of the Khovrino farm Cossack society, Evgeny Shabaev, who, together with like-minded people and, as he claims, PMC veterans, appealed to the International Criminal Court. He demanded that an investigation be carried out “into the fact of the forcible detention of persons and their use in military operations.” spoke with a man whom his opponents call a false officer and a fraudster, to find out how Russian mercenaries live and why they so need the legalization of their status.
Lenta.ru: How many employees of different PMCs are there in Russia now, according to your estimates?
We are social activists, we do not control the process of entry and exit from the country, that is, our data is incomplete in any case. But even with our own forces, we counted more than 10 thousand people. But we must understand: the real numbers can be many times higher. An interesting point: according to our information, PMCs now hire not only retired pensioners, but also those who worked yesterday.
What, according to your information, happened in February near Deir ez-Zor, and how many people were injured and killed there? Because there is no objective picture.
On February 7, 2018, Russian mercenaries tried to seize oil and gas fields and the country's largest oil and gas refinery, Conoco, from the Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Arabs and Kurds loyal to the United States. The Americans contacted the command of the Russian forces and received confirmation that the Russian armed forces were not taking part in the operation. Then powerful artillery fire was opened on the attackers, and aviation entered the battle. According to unofficial data, several hundred people were injured.
There is none, because no investigative actions were carried out, the case was not opened, and, in fact, all the witnesses who were ready to testify - and we contacted them, asked to interview them - they are now even more intimidated, they are being “treated” quite seriously, much more than us.
I don’t have exact information with evidence. As I said in February - three days after these events - there were more than four hundred casualties, that is, “two hundred” and “three hundred” - dead and wounded. We still don’t know who exactly died, who exactly was wounded. But this is much more than the five people [Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry] Peskov spoke about - that’s a fact.
Let's talk about the everyday life of our Russian PMCs in Syria. How many of our mercenaries are there?
"Wagner" numbers from two and a half to three thousand. During the most difficult periods there were about 3.5 thousand, but there was never more than that. Less than two thousand too.
How do soldiers interact with our VKS?
As such, coordination is quite weak. Especially after the conflicts that are said to have occurred in 2016 between the leadership and the most respected affiliate sponsor of this structure, a former convicted child prostitute, [Evgeniy] Prigozhin.
What was the conflict?
According to the information of those people who completed this service, in financial matters. In the section of contracts, in the section of spheres of influence, and, in fact, in payment for those fields that were transferred to the Europolis company. Therefore, here everyone has their own interest, everyone substitutes each other.
In Deir ez-Zor, the group was simply set up: the detachments went to storm the Conoco plant, but they were not told that several US PMC specialists had been “purged” there before. Therefore, before they had even begun to storm the facility, they encountered air resistance, which destroyed their entire column. It was known in advance that there would be an air attack.
This conflict is quite interesting from a military point of view, but I cannot name those responsible. I know from knowledgeable people that this was a setup. This clearly demonstrates the relationships within the so-called Coordination Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria.
As for the use of PMCs themselves, I can tell you about simple specifics: when a person is thrown there, he is offered to buy his own weapons. There is no such problem in PMCs of any global structure. There is no other problem when you, a narrow-profile specialist, a special forces soldier who understands the goals and objectives of his work, are used to storm cities before artillery preparation. That is, they simply physically destroy you, without using your working potential, which needs to be used.
The second point is the attitude towards the wounded and killed. Export is carried out only through Khmeimim, there are no other planes. Seats on these boards are quite expensive.
Expensive - how much is it? Is a thousand dollars enough?
Several thousand. I can’t say for sure, because it depends on the flight from Syria to Russia and how full it is. Simple “cattle creatures” - and this is what the Rodnovers call people who believe in Christ - they are not needed. This is the attitude towards the rank and file.
Who is it that says that?
The Rodnovers who command us at Wagner are Ratibor and other comrades.
The most important trophy that exists in Syria is the ISIS gold dinar ( banned in the Russian Federation). These are real gold coins that are produced for payment in a terrorist state. All these gold coins are naturally confiscated from the people who serve there and are trying to make money somehow.
When exported, they remain the property of this PMC. This is gold, 999-carat. This is the most important trophy. Everything else that these sneakers have - jihadmobiles, machine guns, machine guns - you can choose a slightly better, slightly more modified model. You will have to hand over everything else yourself, because with such a layout you will not run far.
How do fighters move around Syria? Is the Ministry of Defense helping?
Only in the case of large movements - now this practically does not exist. The country is flat, there are roads, and people move along them.
Are they taking prisoners?
I've never heard of this before. Perhaps for a short time, like “tongues”. Then... they are no longer needed.
How is interaction with the Syrian army structured?
Almost nothing. The entire Syrian army looks very good except in parades. There are individual units that are fighting, but they need to be pushed all the time - I’m speaking from reports that are also coming from current employees of the Ministry of Defense. Russian speakers lead at all levels.
What exactly do PMC employees do?
They follow orders: what they say is what they do. They don’t take specialization into account - they can send you to storm a city without reconnaissance or artillery preparation, this is regularly practiced.
It looks like some kind of penal battalion.
There are several levels of this “penal battalion”: The first penal battalion is the so-called “Carpathians”, where people mainly fight from the DPR, LPR and Belarus. Russians, vagrants, and many different forms of vagrants also end up there. These people are the first to be sent to assaults and their salaries are lower. About 100 thousand.
Then come the “Wagnerites”: the penalty soldiers of the so-called second and fifth divisions. They consist of "pedestrians" (infantrymen), and finally artillerymen. They must serve in this system for a certain period of time, but they can serve in an unformatted manner.
It’s always like this: “Karpaty” comes, then “two”, then “five”, and then the divisional ones - they, as a rule, rarely participate in military clashes. In any case, they also die, but less. These levels are different and naturally there are different salaries. Some people are loved by their bosses more, others less. It's still thriving there...
Corruption?
Not really. Let's put it this way: interpersonal dialogue tied to sexual desire.
It looks like a prison!
But because most of the leaders there are idiots.
How do you go abroad? Are there any stamps placed on the passport?
Look. You, like any citizen of the Russian Federation, have the opportunity to conclude a contract. When concluding a contract at the border, they will not ask you anything; they can only ask for what purpose you are leaving the territory of the Russian Federation. In this case, you may, but are not required to, present an employment contract. They may also ask for employment insurance.
The insurance and contract are signed here in Russia. Various firms are involved in insurance and employment. Basically, according to our information, they are affiliated with offshore representative offices, which in the final jurisdiction are connected with people, as they say, above. I can’t confirm this, but that’s why we turned to the International Criminal Court so that it could find out through the SWIFT payment system who the final beneficiary is.
Yes. Therefore, when a person crosses the Russian border, questions may arise to him. Therefore, fairly normal employment contracts are drawn up, but not for mercenaries, but mainly for geological exploration specialists, security guards, and sailors.
This is very convenient for logistical purposes. Look, for PMCs the main thing is technology, they take care of it like the apple of their eye. If it can be repaired, never abandon it. You can abandon people, but not equipment. That’s why they take it out, but in order to take it out, you still need to protect it, because any equipment contains non-ferrous metal. If you leave it to local Arabs or local blacks, they will quickly disassemble everything for spare parts. Therefore, seafarer specialization is often used when concluding contracts.
What do they do with mercenaries after they return? Is it forbidden, for example, to write memoirs?
You will write as much of your memoir as your recruiter will allow you to. When people return to Russia - illegally or legally - they register. And a person is tracked for a certain time. It is the recruiter's job to look at his mental and physiological state. To keep him from twitching, they have certain conversations with him and take receipts from him.
These conversations, by the way, are quite specific, since recruiters basically have experience... specialized, prison-level. It’s not just that if you don’t start writing something, you’ll forget the name of your wife, your children. The pressure is both psychological and physical. The physical is used secondarily, when a person, as they say, does not understand.
But you understand correctly, when a person leaves a combat zone and returns home, he is happy that he got out of there. Because the entrance is a ruble, and the exit is two. And problems can already be found here, at home, at any moment. After all, fights in taverns happen every day, and drawing a stick is always a great joy for us.
Is travel abroad closed?
Well, why, they can travel abroad. Many of them go to Thailand on vacation after serving. It's no problem. There is no such restriction, I have not seen it.
You mentioned that former participants in the Ukrainian conflict from both sides may find themselves in the same trench. It’s clear with people from the “people’s republics,” but how are Ukrainians recruited?
Recruiters from the DPR and LPR operate calmly on the territory of Ukraine - they cross the contact line. In addition, there is a trade in prisoners of war between these republics and Ukraine - for 5 thousand dollars on both sides, you can be included in an “all for all” exchange. If a Ukrainian soldier is in captivity, he is not replaced for a long time, no one needs him, no one pays for him - he succumbs to recruitment and leaves to fight.
Why did you decide to openly talk about the situation with Russian PMCs?
You'll never find another fool like me. Previously, no one expressed a desire to make this data public, but I decided to do it.
Aren't you afraid for your health?
I have some preparation. If she doesn't help, well, we're all not immortal. I am very upset that my country is turning into a rogue country. To a country in which a person who fights, who essentially defends his homeland, becomes a terrorist in fact.
Which threatens not only other countries, but also his own country, since he will not undergo rehabilitation. Here, after a glass of vodka - and he will drink anyway - no matter how prepared he is, he will create a danger to society. And the country will return to the 90s at a different level.
Why am I saying this right now? Because, unfortunately, this business has received a very serious impetus for development. Because the cost of these services is extremely low. Competition is high, but the cost of services of Russian PMCs is hundreds of times lower than that of Western clients. Just imagine - an oil company enters the market and wants to hire a Western PMC for, say, $100. But then they tell her: “You will pay 100 dollars there, but we will only have ten!” And they agree because it is profitable.
What do you want to achieve by going to court?
Further work of private military armies or organized criminal groups - as they can be called - in the current conditions will lead to the fact that a huge number of orders will be received. Accordingly, Russian citizens will go to fight in other countries and - if they are alive and not wounded - will return here.
They will not be socialized, they will create many problems here, which will be larger and broader than in the early 1990s. That is, they will join the mafia, which will flourish in the Russian Federation. That's why we are now proactive.
All government agencies that we contacted tell us: we do not have PMCs, and everyone who is going, plans to participate in these clashes, some kind of campaigns are criminals. People are traveling to other countries, other regions of the world, and now they are already planning to go to Venezuela. In these conditions, we simply have no choice but to turn to the international legal system, since in general, according to our Constitution, international law prevails over Russian law. After all, there is a threat to other countries as well - due to the actions of our PMCs in Libya, the flow of refugees to Europe has increased, and criminal clashes have begun there.