Russian PMC Wagner. Use of chemical weapons. Secret crazy hero

On February 7, in Syria, in the province of Deir ez-Zor, a battle took place, as a result of which fighters of the Russian “Private Military Company Wagner” were killed. We have collected the latest information about what happened.

The battle became known on Friday, February 9, when the American television channel CBS, citing sources in the Pentagon, reported that in Syria, Russian mercenaries who were trying to seize an oil field near the village of Hisham were hit by an airstrike by an international coalition under the command of the United States. On the same day o heavy losses"PMC Wagner" reported Igor Strelkov (Girkin), commander of pro-Russian separatists in Donbass in 2014. He did not provide any evidence or name sources. Audio recordings were distributed on social networks, which spoke of more than two hundred dead, but no confirmation of the authenticity of the recording or the authenticity of the information was provided.

Critics of reports mass death fighters of the Wagner PMC point to the appearance of fake videos of an alleged attack on the convoy and the fact that Igor Strelkov is critical of the participation of people who fought on the side of the pro-Russian separatists in the Syrian campaign.

Death toll

There is no official data on the losses of the Wagner PMC; all information is based either on reports from relatives and friends of the killed fighters, or on media information, which, as a rule, refers to unnamed sources.

On Monday, the names of the five victims became known:

Alexey Ladygin from Ryazan,

Vladimir Loginov from Kaliningrad,

Stanislav Matveev from the city of Asbest, Sverdlovsk region,

Igor Kosoturov, Asbestos,

Kirill Ananyev.

About the first four wrote investigative group Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT). The latter was called "Mediazona".

Alexey Shikhov from Nizhny Novgorod (previously participated in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine),

Vladimir, call sign "Apostle", member of the patriotic organization "Triune Rus'",

Ruslan Gavrilov, Kedrovoye village, Sverdlovsk region.

The Znak publication spoke with Matveev’s widow; according to her, the relatives received the news of the death of Kosoturov and Matveev on February 9 from people with whom they fought in the so-called “LPR” in 2015–2016. As the woman said, her husband and at least 9 other people from Asbest and the village of Kedrovoye left for Rostov[-on-Don] in September, where “trainings” took place until October, and from there they went to Syria. (In the area of ​​Rostov-on-Don there is a base where fighters of the Wagner PMC train.)

Co-chairman of the Other Russia party Alexander Averin reported to Mediazona about the death of Kirill Ananyev. Ananyev, a former National Bolshevik, also fought in eastern Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian separatists before Syria.

• Novaya Gazeta reports, citing sources in Syria, about 13 dead Russians, “a dozen more were injured.”
• The already mentioned publication of “Znak” quotes the words of the ataman of the village of Svyato-Nikolskaya Oleg Surnin about the losses of the “Wagner PMC” (the conversation with whom took place in the office of the local branch of the Union of Afghan Veterans): “On the first day when this all happened, there was information about 30 dead. As of the day before yesterday, there was already information about 217."
• Bloomberg on Tuesday evening published the loss data, citing an unnamed person. official representative The United States and three Russians “aware of what happened.” Two Russian sources claim that at least 200 “contract soldiers” who fought on the side of the Assad regime were killed in the battle, most of them Russians. The American spokesman says about 100 were killed and 200–300 wounded, but could not say how many of them were from Russia.
• Russian Ministry of Defense: “There are no Russian military personnel in this area of ​​the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor.” Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin does not have information about Russians who may be in Syria, except for military personnel of the Russian Armed Forces.

In Deiz ez-Zor, the Euphrates divides the positions of the warring parties. Pro-Assad forces are on the west bank, the opposition is on the east. On the evening of February 7, a detachment of pro-Assad forces, which included fighters from the Wagner PMC, tried to attack positions on the other side of the river.

David Ignatius, international observer and a Washington Post columnist in Syria last week blogged about Hassan, one of the commanders of the Kurdish-led Syrian democratic forces", who witnessed the battle on February 7. Hasan claims that on that day intelligence was received about an impending attack by pro-Assad forces on the headquarters of his forces, where American advisers were also located. And at 9:30 pm, about half an hour before attack, he called a Russian liaison officer in Deir ez-Zor in hopes of preventing it. “We said there was some movement and that we didn’t want to strike. [The Russians] didn’t accept our offer and said nothing was happening,” Hasan told reporters through a translator.

The US military took similar measures, Ignatius notes, citing a Pentagon statement: “Coalition forces were in contact with the Russian side before, during and after the attack. Russian representatives assured that they are not involved in a clash with coalition forces in the area."

The attack began around 10 p.m., Hasan said, under cover of tanks and artillery fire. Among the attackers, he said, were Russians, presumably mercenaries. An airstrike was carried out against the attackers, killing, according to the Pentagon, more than 100 people. Hassan believes that there were Russians among them. According to him, during the airstrike, a Russian liaison officer contacted him again, asking for a pause to pick up the dead and wounded.

"TVNZ", citing an unnamed source in the Wagner PMC, confirms that the battle on the night of February 7-8 was: “Considering that the Kurdish formations had occupied a large oil plant on the left bank of the Euphrates without serious reasons, the command of the PMC decided to try to recapture it ". The calculation was that, having seen impressive forces, the Kurds would not resist and retreat. However, the American officers who were in the SDF positions had a different opinion. US representatives contacted the Russian side several times. And they confirmed that they were not conducting military operations in this area. After that, the Americans were not shy."

The newspaper quotes a direct speech from a “source in the PMC”: “They simply crushed us. First artillery, then helicopters... The dead, of course, were not 600 or 200. But American statistics are very close to reality. Surely they saw that we were preparing for assault on its bridgehead on the left bank... As a result, the 5th assault detachment was almost completely killed, burned along with its equipment.”

• Although Bloomberg calls the incident "possibly the deadliest clash between citizens of two states - former adversaries in cold war since its end,” the American representative emphasized that there was no talk of the possibility of a direct clash between the US and Russian militaries.
• The target of the attack by pro-Assad forces, including fighters from the Wagner PMC, according to many reports, was an oil facility under the control of Syrian opposition units. The publication Fontanka.ru claimed last year that a quarter of the gas and oil produced in the territory conquered for Bashar al-Assad could go to a company associated with Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, close to the Kremlin. At the same time, it was alleged that the businessman is connected with Wagner PMC. Prigogine denied this.

In honor of the “Heroes of the Fatherland Day,” Dmitry Utkin, nicknamed “Wagner,” is the commander of an unregistered private military company (PMC) of the same name, whose fighters allegedly participated in battles in Syria and Donbass. Radio Liberty reminds us who Wagner was, what his small army became famous for and why photographs of Utkin at a reception in the Kremlin may be another important evidence of the involvement of Russian authorities in military operations abroad.

Wagner was noticed while filming from the Kremlin by Denis Korotkov, a journalist from the Fontanka.ru website. According to the Kremlin website, “more than 300 military and civilians who showed special courage and heroism, including Heroes Soviet Union, Heroes of Russia, full holders of the Order of Glory and holders of the Order of St. George."

In an interview with Radio Liberty in the spring of 2016, Denis Korotkov described in detail what traces of Wagner and his small army were found in Syria and Ukraine. Shortly before this, Fontanka.ru published data on the losses that Wagner PMC suffered in Syria. According to unnamed Fontanka sources, these losses could already reach 60 people in the spring of 2016. Information about the participation of Wagner PMC in hostilities in Syria was partially confirmed in an interview with Radio Liberty by an activist of the investigative group Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) Team Ruslan Leviev. In March CIT published information about the supposedly sixth Russian military man killed in Syria, Sergei Chupov. Fontanka claims that Chupov was not actually a career soldier Russian army and was part of the Wagner PMC. Leviev also agrees that this is quite possible, although he estimates the losses of “private traders” in Syria more modestly, at most at several dozen dead.

De jure, there are no “private military companies” in Russia and legally there cannot be any. De facto "Wagner PMC", according to Ruslan Leviev, is a semi-legal combat formation that exists under the wing and with the money of the Ministry of Defense - even the Wagner training ground is located next door to the base of the 10th separate special forces brigade of the GRU of Russia in the village Molkino Krasnodar region. Fighters of the Wagner PMC, according to journalists and investigators, participated not only in the Syrian campaign, but also in the annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine.

"Wagner" is the call sign of a 46-year-old reserve lieutenant colonel Dmitry Utkin. According to Fontanka, until 2013, Utkin was the commander of the 700th separate special forces detachment of the 2nd, stationed in Pechory, Pskov region. separate brigade GRU Ministry of Defense. After being transferred to the reserve, he worked in Moran Security Group, a private company specializing in protecting ships from pirate attacks. According to the publication, he received his call sign thanks to his love for Wagner’s music and “commitment to the aesthetics and ideology of the Third Reich.” Wagner, not sparing the soldiers, sent them with “sabers drawn” to the enemy’s positions, for which he was not very loved by his subordinates. Another thing is Sergei Chupov, who died in Syria, “thought with his head and did not send people to be killed.”

Investigations dedicated to the Wagner PMC and its predecessor, the Slavic Corps, were published earlier - from them, for example, it became known that the salary of fighters of a private military company in Russia ranges from 80 to 120 thousand rubles per month (nowadays amounts up to 240 thousand rubles), and benefits to relatives in the event of the death of a soldier - 3 million. In a conversation with Radio Liberty, the author of a publication on the Fontanka.ru website Denis Korotkov tells details about the actions of the Wagner PMC in Syria, and the activist Conflict Intelligence Team Ruslan Leviev - about what “private military companies” are in Russian realities.

Ruslan Leviev, an activist of the investigative group Conflict Intelligence Team, which searches for information from open sources on the Internet and checks it “in the field” and through its sources:

– We know only one Russian private military company - this is the same semi-mythical “Wagner Private Military Company”. We know that there are other companies in Russia that call themselves "private military companies", but these are usually something like security agencies. And only from the Wagner PMC there was convincing evidence that its fighters really exist and are fighting in Syria. In particular, many probably remember photographs of allegedly killed Russian soldiers near Palmyra, which were published by Islamic State militants. (the organization is banned in Russia. - RS) March 17.

Similar rumors came from our familiar sources among the soldiers of the Ministry of Defense. We had similar assumptions regarding Sergei Chupov, whom we knew died in Syria. In particular, some of his acquaintances, on condition of anonymity, told us that in fact he resigned from internal troops in the mid-2000s and ended up in a private military company, and in Syria he was already as a mercenary. However, we did not have convincing evidence that he actually fought in this PMC. Now we see from the article on Fontanka that these half-rumors, half-theories that the “Wagner PMC” exists and Sergei Chupov fought in this private military company are confirmed. This also explains how a serviceman of the internal troops, and not the Ministry of Defense, ended up in Syria - precisely because he ended up in a private military company.

– Did “Wagner PMC” exist before the start of the wars in Ukraine and Syria?

– Our sources, who are connected with the special forces of the Ministry of Defense and are familiar with the Wagner PMC, say that this unit was formed through the so-called Slavic Corps. This is a PMC that existed before Wagner PMC. She was hired by an offshore company Moran Security Group, this was in 2009. They hired them to protect ships from pirates when there were these stories of pirate attacks on ships. Around 2011–12" Slavic Corps" collapsed, and this so-called "Wagner PMC" appeared. We know that these photographs, then still of the "Slavic Corps", show one famous volunteer, a militia -​ Vyacheslav Korneev, his call sign is “Leshy”, which we heard about both in Syria and Donbass. He is captured in photographs of this “Slavic Corps” from 2013 in Syria. And he also has a video from Syria from 2013 on his profile. That is, we believe that this PMC, which was first the “Slavic Corps” and then the “Wagner PMC,” has been involved in combat operations in Syria in one form or another since at least the fall of 2013.

– What are the main differences between Russian private military companies, on the one hand, from the regular army, and on the other hand, from an ordinary private security company?

We assume that they are taught directly by the Main intelligence agency

- In Russia there is no legislative framework for the existence of private military companies. Impossible to exist civil organizations so that they have such weapons as sniper rifles, mortars, grenades, and so on. Even private security companies do not have the right to own such weapons. And this PMC has it. We know that their training ground is located in Molkino, in Krasnodar region, directly next to the base of the 10th GRU special forces brigade. We assume that they are trained directly by the Main Intelligence Directorate. And their entire existence is at such a classified level, semi-official, that is, there are apparently no documents that such and such a person serves in this PMC, that he was sent to Syria. We believe that, most likely, these mercenaries, when joining PMCs, agree to the condition that they formally will not exist either in Syria or anywhere else and de jure they do not serve anywhere. And if they die, then they are left to themselves, to their relatives, that is, there will be no help from the authorities.

– Is it possible, in this case, to assume that the main source of equipment and financing for this PMC is the Russian Ministry of Defense?

- Yes, definitely. We think so. Because, firstly, their training ground is directly in contact with the training ground of the 10th GRU special forces brigade. If their existence were illegal, if it were not approved by the Russian authorities, it would be impossible for them to be located next to such an elite part of the GRU special forces. Plus those photographs of killed mercenaries that were published by IS militants - they show weapons that only elite GRU special forces units have. For example, a mine-grenade, an “insert”, which was in the uniform of one of the killed. We also see from the photographs published by Vyacheslav Korneev and other persons that they are being delivered to Syria by the Ministry of Defense. They are photographed against the backdrop of Ministry of Defense helicopters and Ministry of Defense aircraft. There is clear assistance in both transportation and armament from the Russian authorities and the Ministry of Defense.

– How diverse is the workforce of private military companies? Is participation limited by age, nationality or some other parameters?

– Of those people whom we saw, who are either definitely involved in PMCs, or there are reasonable suspicions against them, these are all people with extensive experience, as a rule, they are more than 30 years old, they have already served and conscript service, and contract service. There are also very elderly people, like Sergei Chupov, who was 51 years old. That is, as a rule, these are not some volunteers whom we met in the Donbass, former miners or some car wash workers, but really people with combat experience who served in well-trained military units.

These are not some volunteers we met in the Donbass, former miners or some car wash workers, but really people with combat experience

–​Is it possible to at least approximately estimate the number of losses of the PMC we are talking about in Syria, say, for Last year?

– Those people with whom we spoke, who claim to be familiar with people from this PMC, say that during the period of Russia’s official participation in the Syrian operation, there were several dozen dead. But we have not yet found confirmation of such a scale. As a rule, even those people who fight in PMCs, after their death, mourning posts of their relatives and friends still appear, as was the case with Sergei Chupov. However, we did not notice such a wave of messages of grief that would correspond to dozens of deaths. Therefore, only at the level of rumors, according to unconfirmed information, their losses amount to several dozen people,” says Ruslan Leviev.

According to the online publication Fontanka, in total, about a hundred Russian fighters from the Wagner PMC took part in the battles in Syria. Their task was to go in the “first wave” and direct artillery.

"He cheerfully comes after us Syrian special forces, and then Vesti-24, together with ORT with cameras at the ready, go to interview them,” an unnamed fighter from Wagner PMC told Fontanka. The online publication claims that about 60 fighters of this unit were killed in Syria. It is noted that that before the operation in Syria, fighters of the same private military company fought on the side of the separatists in eastern Ukraine. According to Fontanka.ru, one of the proofs of the existence of Wagner PMC is that its soldiers receive military orders and awards by decrees of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The updated “Wagner Division,” according to “Fontanka,” was created several years after the collapse of the “Slavic Corps,” in 2014. In total, the PMC has at least 600 people - without service personnel. Denis Korotkov, journalist of the website "Fontanka.ru":

– You very confidently name the names of those who occupy leadership positions in this so-called battalion, or PMC. Where did you get the information?

– I have this information from the words of my numerous interlocutors, whose names I cannot disclose, but I am confident in their knowledge. In many cases, I am confident that these are very worthy people of honor who will not allow themselves to give me unverified information. These are numerous cross-sources, so we allowed ourselves to name the name of “Wagner” and Dmitry Utkin directly and openly. Although this name was known to us more than six months ago, in previous materials we told his biography, but did not name it, but in January-February he had already entered the public space, which is why we revealed his identity.

– On what basis do they recruit people to Wagner PMC, who exactly goes to serve there?

- This is very different people. In principle, the conditions are quite simple: these are men from 25 to 45 years old, who do not have an outstanding criminal record, are fit for health reasons, and are able to meet simple physical fitness standards. A suitable military occupational specialty would be an advantage. First of all, these are, of course, former military personnel, former employees of the police and security agencies, that is, those who have undergone appropriate training. IN Lately much goes there more people, as I was told, there are enough unprepared people who simply seem very pretty wage 240 thousand rubles per month for a fighter in a combat zone.

The main composition is absolutely normal people, including representatives of the middle class

There are also lumpen individuals. But, as it seems to me, the main composition is absolutely normal people, including representatives of the middle class, who for some reason either did not find themselves in this life, or were unable to find a job that would allow them to provide for themselves and their family. Well, and a certain percentage, of course, there are people at war who simply like this kind of life, who consider it their calling, their profession.

– What are the functions of this armed formation in Syria? Who and how can coordinate combat operations between this battalion and the Syrian government army, the army of Bashar al-Assad?

– The function is very unclear. Based on how the training takes place in the camp in Russia, it is mainly training according to the methods of the troops special purpose. That is, this is intelligence work, work sabotage groups and similar things. If you believe the information that comes through first or second hands from Syria, then quite often the Wagner group is used as elite infantry, which, of course, entails quite large losses, incommensurable, let’s say, with the practice of special forces, and as a result - dissatisfaction personnel. I don’t know who can coordinate the work, who can exercise command.

– The heroes of your material complain that in Syria, and even in eastern Ukraine, they are sent into battle as cannon fodder. How can you explain this, given that huge amounts of money are spent on this formation, on these military actions?

– It’s difficult for me to understand the logic of these people. I can only guess. In Syria it turns out to be a “hodgepodge”. As Russian officials say, our military advisers are present there, as well as military personnel from special forces units. Our artillerymen and aviation are obviously present there as well. There are also quite heterogeneous forces that are subordinate to Bashar al-Assad. There are also people from Wagner PMC there. No matter how aviation and artillery work, in any case, until the infantry enters somewhere, there will be no victory. This is an axiom. And just to enter somewhere, to conquer the area directly, settlements nobody wants. Because the quality of the Arab infantry is rated very low. Throwing parts of the armed forces there is fraught with great reputational losses. Therefore, those for whom they will cry the least are moved there. This is my guess.

– What data do you have about the losses of this unit in Syria during the entire period of its combat operations? How and where did you collect this data?

– I’ll make a reservation right away that all these figures can only be estimates, from my point of view, from conversations with the fighters. None of the commanders deigned to get in touch with me and report the losses, and the fighter does not see the whole picture. In addition, his information cannot always be confirmed, because he very often does not know the names and surnames of even those with whom he fought alongside. But this is my personal, purely inaccurate assessment. I think that at least 200 people have died there to date. Let me emphasize once again that this is my personal assessment, which does not pretend to be accurate or objective.

- Another very important point in your investigation. How do you think that the fighters of the mercenary formation receive state military awards?

– I’m not sure that the word “mercenary” is applicable here – in the sense in which it is described in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. As for how they receive military awards, I wrote: from my point of view, it is impossible to do this officially. They receive awards, the information again came from various sources and is partially confirmed by documents, but there are instructions - the procedure for submitting for state awards of the Russian Federation, approved by the President of Russia. In accordance with the usual procedure for submitting for state awards, it does not seem possible to me that it is possible for a fighter of such a unit operating on the territory of another state to receive a state award!

– Here’s an example: an illegal intelligence officer who acted for a long time on the territory of some foreign state, then returns to his homeland and secretly from everyone, only the awardees and he himself know about it, receives a high state award.

- No problem. An illegal intelligence officer is either a full-time employee of one of the intelligence agencies of the Russian Federation, or a citizen of Russia or a foreign citizen cooperating with this agency. Relevant government bodies authorities, for example, Service foreign intelligence, federal Service security or the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, form a package of documents, a presentation describing the feat, and by a closed decree this person is awarded the authority. I don’t know how you can reward a person who fights in a non-existent organization.

- One more thing. What was the role of this battalion in Crimea? After all, it turned out that the notorious “little green men” are military personnel of regular Russian units.

The most present in Crimea various people one of the most various organizations, including, according to my information, people from Wagner’s group were also present there

– If you look at documentary footage of Crimean history, you will see very, very different people there. You will see those who were called servicemen of the Russian army, and indeed, apparently, they were contract soldiers from the elite units of the Russian Armed Forces. You will see there much older people in incomprehensible uniforms, very reminiscent of quite serious special forces, you will see there completely incomprehensible people in assorted camouflage and in civilian clothes. There seemed to be a variety of people from various organizations present, including, according to my information, people from the Wagner group. Those people who are on all the posters - " polite people", with cats and dogs, of course, it’s not them.

– Do you accept the idea that besides this Wagner division there are others? Maybe a speech it's already underway about some private Russian army that operates in Syria, Ukraine and somewhere else? We just don’t know yet, but more people and even entire units will emerge - is this theoretically possible?

– Theoretically, anything is possible, but in practice it is extremely unlikely. Because if a little more than 2 thousand people could pass through the Wagner group during its entire existence, on a national scale this is a drop in the bucket. And then information about her leaked. It seems to me unrealistic to hide something larger and more active. In fact, in the “DPR” and “LPR,” let’s say, informed people have an idea of ​​what units are operating there. And such unidentified forces, the “flying Dutchmen,” were not seen there. Although I cannot rule it out, I have no information about it.

– Could such a unit be an “amateur activity” of some Russian commanders of the Ministry of Defense, heads of law enforcement agencies? Or it may exist in modern Russia only with the knowledge of the highest leaders of the state?

- I'm not very good at higher spheres the Kremlin and the Ministry of Defense in order to judge who has what rights and opportunities there. “I really don’t know, it’s not that I don’t want to, but I can’t answer this question,” says a journalist from the Fontanka.ru publication. Denis Korotkov.

A group of volunteers from Russia (a private military company) operating in Ukraine and then Syria in 2014-2017. The group includes retired officers from various law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation.

The prototype of “Wagner” was the Slavic Corps company, registered in Hong Kong. The fighters of this PMC took part in battles in Syria on the side of the Syrian troops, but were subject to criminal prosecution in Russia. The leadership and fighters of the PMC were suspected of mercenarism (Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). In 2014, the Moscow City Court sentenced PMC leaders to 3 years in prison.

Presumably, Wagner is reserve lieutenant colonel Dmitry Utkin. Until 2013, the officer commanded the 700th separate special forces detachment of the 2nd separate special forces brigade of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. In December 2016, Utkin was invited to a Kremlin reception in honor of the celebration of Heroes of the Fatherland Day. Fontanka reports that at the event he was awarded by Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is not specified which award Wagner received.

The media reports that businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin may be helping fighters operating against militants in Syria. In addition, according to media reports, the PMC operates a training base near Krasnodar.

In 2015, the group moved to Syria, where it lost fighters when a Russian military base was shelled. In 2016, the PMC took part in the liberation of Palmyra. According to some estimates, there could be 400 members of the group in Syria. From the fall of 2015 to the spring of 2016, the PMC lost 32 fighters in Syria.

In October 2017, the SBU accused the PMC of participating in a military conflict in the east of the country. In particular, the service suspects the group of shooting down an Il-76 plane and storming the Lugansk and Debaltseve airports.

Critical notes about Wagner appeared in the media. For example, in June a video appeared on YouTube, which allegedly showed PMC fighters. The men mocked the Syrian. The original source of the video was on the portal of the Funker530 veterans society (USA). Some time after publication, numerous inaccuracies were found in the video: errors in Russian-language inscriptions, inconsistencies in clothing and weapons, indicating that the video is a fake.

Reedus correspondent Anna Dolgareva met with a Donbass veteran who fought in Syria as part of the Wagner PMC.

There are still ongoing disputes over deaths of Russians from a US military strike in Syria. The citizens of the Russian Federation who died there were not in official service in the Russian army - they worked in "Wagner's private military company", in fact, were mercenaries. Many of them fought in Donbass before joining PMCs and being sent to Syria. The Reedus correspondent managed to talk to one of these “soldiers of fortune,” who had already returned to peaceful life. At the request of the interlocutor, we cannot disclose his name.

How could you prove your participation in the fighting in Syria?

- How could you prove it? It’s as simple as saying the badge number, but then they’ll immediately understand who has opened up. I could name the names of my colleagues, but then it would be easier to introduce myself... It turns out that it’s up to you to believe me or not.

Okay, how did you get into Wagner PMC?

“My friends called me, I signed a contract and went.” I had combat experience at that time, from Donbass.

What exactly was stated in the contract?

— The contract is concluded with the company EuroPolis. It is also unofficially “Wagner PMC”. A non-disclosure document is signed for a period of 5 years. According to this document, you are prohibited from saying anything about the company and its connection with Wagner.

At the same time, the third clause of the contract is very interesting. It states that we are flying there not as military personnel, but as civilian personnel. That is, oil workers, builders, consultants on the restoration of the SAR infrastructure.

The next item is the next of kin. They are contacted in the event of the death of a soldier. They are also paid compensation for the deceased. In a security company, compensation amounts to up to 3 million rubles, in assault detachments - up to 5 million rubles for the deceased .

Then there is a clause on the voluntary renunciation of state awards: medals, orders and crosses. (Our interlocutor was unable to answer the question why this was necessary, but experts clarified that such a waiver is signed so that there is no material evidence in the event of capture or death with loss of body. - Note by “Reedus.”)

The last clause of the agreement is the most interesting. The company promises that it will make every effort to return the body to its homeland. But it does not guarantee one hundred percent that this will be done.

Here are the main points, in a nutshell. I won’t show you the contract itself; it’s impossible to photograph it—the Security Service checks phones at the exit.

What sanctions were provided for violation of the terms of the contract? For example, for disclosure?

— Sanctions were not specified in the agreement, so I cannot say what kind of punishment we are talking about.

But you understand that you are violating the terms of the contract? Why are you telling us this?

“I think people should know the truth.”

What is Molkino?

— Molkino farm near Krasnodar. That's where Wagner's base is.

Do they pay a lot?

— When I signed the contract, the amount was 240 thousand rubles. In fact, they subsequently received 150 thousand plus bonuses from 30 to 100% of the salary, depending on the combat missions completed.

They fell on bank card or could one of your relatives receive them for you?

— Salaries were received at the cash desk, in cash. But relatives at the base in Molkino could also receive it. Those who wanted the money to immediately go to their relatives wrote a power of attorney in their name.

How do they even get there, to PMCs?

- Mainly through friends. My friends suggested it to me. Such word of mouth. Many who have passed through Donbass are aware of the ins and outs of all this.

PMC fighter Maxim Kolganov, who died in Syria, during training at a tactical shooting range in Molkino / Fontanka.ru

Are there any strict requirements for selecting people?

— Now the recruitment conditions have been softened. When I quit, a huge crowd gathered around me - about sixty people. At first, of course, they tried to hire people with experience, but the increase in losses forced us to soften the selection and row everyone. And, in fact, this affected the quality of replenishment.

A vicious circle results: an increase in losses, a recruitment of less combat-ready reinforcements, hence an increase in losses again... Is the percentage of deaths in general high?

— Regarding losses — In our country, almost every third fighter was “200” (killed) or “300” (wounded). All because of constant attacks in the forehead.

Dmitry Utkin, aka Wagner / Fontanka.ru

Were you forced to go to the front?

- Yes exactly. This is Wagner's favorite tactic.

And, of course, there were many losses due to our own stupidity. The “spirits” (fighters of terrorist groups. - Reedus’ note) mined everything, everything in general, from the word “absolutely.” Well, ours were often blown up by booby traps. Mined objects were picked up and again blown up.

The “spirits” also left behind cartridges filled with plastid or TNT. As a result, when firing, the machine gun exploded in his hands...

And what combat missions did you perform?

- Yes, we just walked forward. Head-on, as I said.

Were you given any preparation before this?

— Yes, there was preparation, at the base in Molkino. A month and a half. It all came down to sapper work, tactics, military field medicine and control shooting.

youtube.com

Can you tell us about a memorable fight?

- Yes... We then stormed a small mountain range near Deir ez-Zour, after breaking the defense line of which the road to the Euphrates and a small city on the right flank of Deir ez-Zour opened... I don’t remember the name, but the place itself is still before my eyes costs.

We set out on several Urals. After five kilometers they were forced to unload from the vehicles and line up in marching columns. After another three kilometers of marching on foot, we came into fire contact, the heavy squad turned around and began to work.

Soon there was a loud bang - as it later turned out, we were the ones who burned the T-62 tank. Well... that's all. There was nothing particularly heroic there. We took that ridge...

Here, according to Reedus’s interlocutor, the “frontal” battle of the “Wagnerites” in question took place / yandex.maps

Tell me one more thing. What is your motivation to fight there? For money, for Russia or something else?

— If in Donbass they fought for an idea, then everything there comes down to money and there is no idea at all. At least for me it is.

Are there many people there who fought in Donbass? Why did they then go to fight in Syria?

— Yes, I had a lot of guys with me who went from Donbass straight to Syria. No matter who I talked to, everyone said the same thing: there is no full-scale combat in the Donbass, but in Syria the war is in full swing and money is being paid.

It's hard to fight when there is neither war nor peace. I'm talking about Donbass. Well, people are leaving from there for Syria.

We worked there almost every day. The respite was short - to replenish the ammunition, rest a little, no more than two or three days...

Everything is fine. There’s just one thing: the chance of returning from there alive was 30-40 percent..

Volunteers in Donbass, 2014 / youtube.com

Did you observe this yourself, the death of the children? Have many of your comrades died in your unit?

- Yes. A lot of good guys died. The count goes into dozens, if we talk about those whom I knew personally. Recently, two very close friends ended up in the fifth squad as a result of a recent disaster and the complete destruction of the fifth squad.

Please tell us about the destruction of the fifth squad. How many people actually died there, what did your friends tell you about it?

— I don’t undertake to give specific numbers about the destruction of the fifth detachment, because I was not there. One of my friends is fighting there now, and, according to his wife, he is alive. When he arrives, then he will shed light on the truth.

But I think that the sources that we now have in the persons of Igor Strelkov and Mikhail Polynkov can be trusted, since Strelkov himself has many associates who served and are serving in Wagner.

One of the PMC fighters killed in Syria

But if there is such a catastrophe, then why are there not a single photo, not a single video?

- Yes, because there is nothing to shoot with! I don't have a single photo from there either. They did not take their phones with them; they were confiscated before departure.

Okay, let them confiscate it, you already talked about the control of the Security Service. But then, where are photographs of “Wagnerites” from Syria found in the media and on social networks?

“Some were more cunning; they bought them on the spot.

It's clear. What are your plans for the future? Are you not going to return to fight in Donbass?

- Yes. It's addictive. If the massacre begins, I will return.

Anna Dolgareva

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In our wonderful post-perestroika age, entrepreneurship is not only developing at a gigantic pace, it is crushing all new spheres of influence. As soon as we got used to private medical clinics, so-called LLCs appeared, developing medicines and medical equipment, followed by LLCs for security and investigation. Now private military companies in Russia are trying to gain legal status. They do not exist legally, but there are few people who would not know about their existence. Despite the fact that just for “just serving” in a PMC you can earn 7 years in prison instead of a ton of money, and for campaigning to join any of these companies or for teaching military skills to recruits there you can get as much as 15 years, young people scour the Internet in search of information, how to get into PMCs. Why is there such a difference in views between the government and the people? What illegal actions that are dangerous to society are committed by members of PMCs? Why are these companies so attractive to young guys that they are willing to risk their freedom and even their lives just to get there? Let's try to figure it out.

How did PMCs come into being?

It must be said that private military companies in Russia are far from know-how. Back in 1967, in conservative and respectable England, David Sterling, a colonel in the British army, formed the first unit of mercenaries who served (or worked, as one likes) in a private company that did not grow flowers. Before this, David Sterling created the best SAS special forces unit in the world, which was mainly engaged in reconnaissance and the release of hostages, and also actively participated in armed conflicts. The real colonel named his new creation Watchguard International. Its members were deployed in the Middle East and Africa for a variety of military purposes.

Then PMCs began to appear in America, France, Israel, in all countries where this was regarded as the norm. In the USA, for example, in three years the number of volunteer mercenaries has tripled. PMC members took on any difficult and life-threatening work, and participated in military operations, for example, in Angola. Even the UN used their services.

In 2008, seventeen countries signed the Montreux Document, which stipulated the responsibilities and rights of members of PMCs, plus regulated their practice in military operations. That is, private military companies abroad have long been legalized. Their existence is recognized useful to society, since PMCs are capable of performing the most extraordinary tasks, and in addition, they reduce the death of conscript soldiers in the regular army.

Status of PMCs in Russia

Private military companies in Russia, or rather their prototypes, began to appear during the period of perestroika - the glorious times of permissiveness and impunity. True, at that time these spontaneous groups resembled today’s PMCs only in that their composition included strong, healthy men who did not disdain any “truly masculine” work and the fact that they were paid for it.

But little by little the situation in the country was put in order, which also affected military groups. Now these are already well-coordinated teams, whose leadership strives not to violate the basic principles of legislation. And they no longer take just anyone there, as long as they have strength in their hands, but men with an adequate psyche, who have no criminal record and are not registered anywhere.

The government is making attempts over and over again to finally pass a law on PMCs, that is, to legalize what is already obvious. The last such attempt took place in the spring of 2016, when Oleg Mikheev and Gennady Nosovko (both are deputies of A Just Russia and are not members of PMCs) brought to the Duma a draft on a private military security organization (private military security organization), but the Duma decided to postpone the issue until better times, and Nosovko withdrew his project for revision. The main argument for the government’s refusal is the contradiction of the law on PMCs to Article No. 13 (Part 5) of the Constitution, although the draft included a clause prohibiting PMCs from participating in armed conflicts.

Finally, in December 2016, the government made Solomon’s decision - to legalize the activities of employees in PMCs, but still to leave the private military companies themselves on bird’s rights. This half-hearted legalization appears in the form of amendments to the law on military duty. As soon as the president signs them, it will be possible to conclude short (for a month) or long-term (for a year) contracts to participate in the fight against international terrorism and to establish peace and security in any country where it is needed.

Scope of activity of Russian PMCs

Private military companies in Russia, according to knowledgeable people, are engaged in very useful activities:

Protect individuals;

Escort convoys with valuable cargo;

Ensure the safety of people working in places where the political situation is unstable;

Help eliminate panic and restore order in emergency situations (for example, terrorist attacks);

They protect important objects of any kind (oil rigs, platforms, gas pipelines, oil refineries, civil airports and seaports);

They escort ships in areas where pirates operate;

Engaged in military intelligence;

Provide various (according to their profile) services to government agencies;

Help the population in disaster zones (earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.);

Participate in humanitarian aid.

This list does not include the item “lead combat operations“, although there are many witnesses, of course, who do not give their names, that PMCs also take part in military operations. The most recent examples are Donbass and Syria. There is no documentary evidence of this, there are only journalists’ guesses and behind-the-scenes conversations, and there are also crosses on the graves, where only the soldier’s service number is indicated and nothing else. Even relatives of the deceased PMC members refuse to comment on the death of their loved ones and say that provocations are being organized against them.

Why is the Wagner Group so secret?

There are a lot of rumors about this PMC, in the mixture of which there are grains of truth. Thus, it is known for certain that its prototype was the notorious “Slavic Corps”. This PMC was officially registered, although not in Russia, but in Hong Kong, and consisted not of the Chinese, but of Russians (who had previously served in the SOBR, Airborne Forces, and GRU). The “Slavic Corps” did not hide its intentions and openly placed recruitment advertisements, promising a salary of 5,000 USD. They recruited people to guard facilities in Syria. They also guarded the oil fields in Deir ez-Zor. For this purpose, the soldiers were given anti-aircraft guns(caliber 37 mm), PM-43 mortars without mines, three BMP-1 pieces (one inoperative), two BM-21 pieces with rocket shells without fuses. With such a wonderful weapon, the PMC, while on the march, was attacked by a gang of ISIS fighters. With great difficulty, with the support of an attack aircraft and two Akatsiya installations, the PMC managed to retreat to the Tifor airbase, where it took up defensive positions.

The meticulous workers of Fontanka are trying to find more compromising evidence and incriminate the “Wagner group” in military operations on Syrian soil. But if these soldiers were really there fighting against ISIS, they would deserve respect, not incrimination. A pack of non-humans calling themselves " Islamic State", they commit such atrocities that the blood freezes in your veins. Their destruction of the great monuments in Palmyra is the least evil they brought to the world. According to some reports, there were about 400 Wagnerites in Syria. They took part in the liberation and demining most beautiful city Palmyra, for which the Russian Ministry of Defense established two medals. Only members of his PMC know how many fighters from Dmitry Utkin’s group died there. At the end of spring 2016, the Wagnerites were withdrawn from Syria. Only the repairmen remained there. But on August 1, D. Utkin was again spotted near a Russian helicopter shot down in Idlib.

What to say? The commander of the private military company PMC “Wagner Group” is back in business.

How many PMCs are there in Russia?

There are other private military companies in our country, not just the Wagner Group. Among them:

There are many other PMCs in Russia, more or less well-known and completely classified.

How does recruitment work for PMCs?

On forums on the Internet you can see questions from young guys about where they are accepted into PMCs. Some even ask for the exact address. Since these companies are officially banned, you can only get there through the patronage of those who have connections with them. Such information is not publicly disclosed. It is known that only Russian citizens are accepted there (Utkin, being a Ukrainian, accepted Russian citizenship), and preference is given to those who have a special military training. Other admission criteria:

Absence of any chronic diseases and health problems;

Good physical fitness;

Unencumbered by marriage;

No criminal record.

Working for a PMC mainly entails a good salary (although everything in life is relative). So, according to some data, if missions take place on native soil (convoy, security, etc.) they pay a minimum of 80 thousand rubles per month. Now you can earn that kind of money in any reputable company. For missions abroad they pay up to 500 thousand rubles. For example, in Syria the salary was 300 thousand rubles. per month. For comparison: in Iraq, fighters of the Academi PMC received from 600 to 1000 USD. e. per day. If an employee in a Russian PMC is injured, he is paid a penalty, the amount of which depends on the severity of the injury. If he is killed, his family can hope for compensation of up to 5 million rubles.

Pros and cons of PMCs

Many people believe that private military companies are needed in Russia. Their advantages:

The ability to employ former military personnel who are unable to adapt to civilian life;

Reducing losses in the army among conscripts;

Creation of military bases in any country in the world;

Income to the state treasury;

Resolving complex problems (for example, kidnapping abroad) without violating international law;

Reliable protection of important strategic facilities;

Assistance in resolving national security issues;

The ability for a country to defend its interests without open military action;

Higher efficiency compared to the regular army.

Counterweight for the armed forces;

The inability to fully exercise state control over PMCs;

High cost of PMC services;

The emergence of armed groups in the country that the state is unable to control;

Opacity of contracts concluded by PMCs;

Initiating PMCs into state secrets;

Fears of a certain part of the population (representatives of big business) that legalized PMCs may become a threat to their activities in the form of paramilitary mercenaries who blindly carry out orders.