Britain announced on Thursday a new set of sanctions against 59 Russian and six Belarusian individuals and companies.because the bloody invasion of Ukraine was ordered by Vladimir Putin exactly one month ago. Among these companies are Russian diamond giant Alrosa and the Wagner Private Military Service Groupmercenaries serving the Kremlin operating in Syria, Africa and now in Ukraine.

Four days after the attack on the sovereign nation and neighbors, the evil plan of Moscow: Find Volodimir Zelensky to kill him. prestigious newspaper Time it was the one who published the terrible news: the scary one Wagner Group it’s in Kiev and aims to hunt down the Ukrainian president. There will be 400 mercenaries who are given the mission of assassinating the national leader to overthrow his government and put one controlled by Moscow. Today, this private group is approved by London.

government of Zelensky starting from the beginning of the invasion of the search for “russian saboteur” in the streets of the capital. They will become part of the command of the Russian oligarchs Yevgeny Prigozhin, who leads a ferocious and well-trained mercenary. Agents are waiting for orders from Kremlin attack, and list of 23 goals also includes the entire cabinet, mayor Kiev, Vitaly Klitschkoand his brother Wladimirboth are former boxing champions who have become iconic figures in the Ukrainian capital’s first line of defense.

Private military companies, such as Wagner Grouphas become in recent years a a vital tool that Russia uses to expand its influence in the world while defending their interests. Currently, the presence of Russian mercenaries in at least 30 countries on four continents, which shows the expansion of this phenomenon in conflict Ukraine in 2014 his first essay.

Even though the mercenary company is technically illegal under the Constitution Russia, in fact they have become a key component of a “hybrid warfare” strategy What is she doing? Moscow and offer the head of state of Russia, Vladimir Putina medium by whichcarry out its political goals and advance Russia’s national security interests around the world”, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report.

In general, according to the authors’Moscow mercenary war‘, this security company is in the hands of oligarchs close to the Kremlinas is the case with Prigozhinvery close to putin and who are penalized by United States of America.

One of its main tasks is to support Russia’s foreign policy and expand its influence throughout the world, because thanks to Moscow mercenaries can support a particular country or partner.

From a military point of view, given the abilities of these mercenaries (generally former members of the security forces), allies can be strengthened, while establishing a military presence in scenarios where there is none and even changing the balance of power in certain conflicts “while maintaining a reasonable degree of denial by the Kremlin“, said the author.

In addition, mercenaries are more expendable and their use is less risky than deploying Russian soldiers, especially if they are killed in combat or during training missions. Members of security companies are also sources of intelligence gathering, apart from being able to carry out covert acts and clandestine activities, according to the report. CSIS.

Training supported by the Russian Army

security contractor get training before being sent overseas, in some cases even within military bases and with possible support from the Army and Intelligence services. For example, according to the report, The Wagner Group trains its men in two camps next to the Intelligence base (GRU) in Molkino, in the Krasnodar region.

On the other hand, mercenary companies and their associated companies in the fields of energy, mining, security, and logistics also offer the Russian regime a way to “expand its trade and economic influence in developing countries and establish new revenue streams, particularly from oil, gas and mineral extraction, to reduce the impact of sanctions”, highlights the report.

As for the tasks they perform, its main task is to train and equip the host country’s security forces or some local militias, which includes training in specific combat tasks, such as the use of snipers or anti-aircraft defence. Moreover, they work to protect the local authorities, even become bodyguards of the president, just like Central African Republic. Today the goal is clearer: kill Zelensky.

On several occasions, according to the report, mercenaries were linked to TOWER crane they recruit human assets in addition to performing surveillance and reconnaissance duties and carrying out political warfare, sabotage and other covert missions.

Mercenaries were also deployed to protect key energy infrastructure or mines for both host countries and Russian companiesrecurring situations in Venezuela. In addition, neither they nor the media organizations associated with their companies help spread the message in favor of Russia. In this case, the ‘troll farm’ owned by Prigozhinalso approved by United States of America.

From Ukraine to Venezuela

Ukraine it was the first country where Russian mercenaries appeared. Currently, due to the invasion, it is estimated that there are up to 4 thousand agents Wagner Group deployed throughout the region. Four hundred of them in kyiv. Prior to their central role in the still-active conflict in the Donbas region, they were already present in Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014. According to CSIS, at the height of the conflict between the separatists and Ukrainian forces there were between 2,500 and 5,000 Russian mercenaries.

Her role isdestabilize and then consolidate control over Crimea and the Donbas, burden and pressure kyiv and its western allies to make diplomatic concessions“, all of it”denying official Russian involvement”, underlines the report’s expert authors. Nonetheless, the dispute ended up becoming a “frozen conflict” from which Russia could take some lessons to apply in other scenarios.

Syria has been one of them. Here, Russian mercenaries has become the key support the regime of Bashar al-Assad and to curb the efforts of the United States and its allies. In addition, they are vital in seizing oil fields, refineries, gas plants and other infrastructure that are in rebel hands.

according to CSISin the country there are between 1,000 and 3,000 Russian mercenaries from various companies, including Wagner Groupwhich have played an increasingly direct role in the Syrian regime’s combat operations and are often aligned with Syria’s economic priorities. Moscow. The country also serves as a testing ground for a hybrid deployment model that includes both state troops and mercenaries.

In the case of Libyamercenary support is not for the Government recognized by the international community, but for the public Jalifa Haftar, whose troops he had trained and supported in his assault on Tripoli. The role of 800 to 1,200 mercenaries, mainly from Wagner Groupalso includes defending Russian interests in the country.

“Russia saw a power vacuum and an opportunity to exploit instability to expand Russian influence, using mercenaries to strengthen Haftar, turning the conflict in his favor and reaping the rewards.”, underlines the report’s authors. In addition, Russian mercenaries have strengthened their “geostrategic position and diplomatic influence” in Libyawhich gives Russia a role in any solution to the conflict.

There is also the presence of Russian mercenaries in Sub-Saharan Africa. At RCA, they have trained the security forces, besides protecting their president, Faustin-Archange Touaderaand mining operations. Mozambique However, it failed. mercenary from Wagner Group arrived to support the government in fighting the jihadists in Corporal Delgado “They have little experience conducting operations in the jungle and have difficulty coordinating with local forces,” according to CSIS. Arriving in September 2019, they were replaced last April by mercenaries from a South African company Dyck . Advisory Group.

In addition, Russian mercenaries have also crossed the Atlantic. Since 2017 they have been present in Venezuela, which has one of its biggest allies in Moscow, to safeguard Russian interests and their companies, including Rosneft.. Moreover, since January 2019, around a hundred of them have been deployed for protect Nicolás Maduroafter Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president.

(With information from Europe Press)

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