Why did so many people want to create their own “private army” in Russia?
Despite the fact that Wagner PMC was recognized by the US Treasury as a "transnational criminal organization" with all the ensuing consequences for its members, there is no end to those who want to create their own private army in one form or another in Russia. With what it can be connected?
"Sledgehammer"
Everyone has already heard about the successes of the "musicians", who so far show the most noticeable results on the Ukrainian front. Their recipe consists of several components: the high professionalism of the main backbone of this PMC, real combat experience gained during ground operations in the Middle East and Africa, iron discipline, generous pay and the fact that the losses of the "Wagnerites" are not widely voiced and not taken into account in the reports of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Perhaps this is precisely what explains the fact that in Shoigu's department they treat Yevgeny Prigozhin's media activity with undisguised jealousy, but they are forced to endure this armed formation.
But then there are legitimate questions. An army is an army, and a Wagner is a sledgehammer for solving strictly defined tactical tasks. Do we need then some other PMCs and other volunteer battalions that appear like mushrooms after rain?
PSC "Gazprom Neft"
A few days ago, the press got information that the Russian company Gazprom Neft intends to create its own private security company (PSC), which some media hastened to call PMCs. The highest permission for this was given by the government of Mikhail Mishustin:
Grant the public joint-stock company Gazprom Neft the right to establish a private security organization. Establish that the founder of the organization will be Gazprom Neft with a 70 percent share in the authorized capital of the organization.
The general director of the company is Alexander Dyukov, and the owner of 95,68% of the shares is Gazprom. PJSC Gazprom itself is 50,23% owned by the state represented by the Federal Property Management Agency (38,37%), OJSC Rosneftegaz (10,97%), OJSC Rosgazifikatsiya (0,89%). Another 25,20% of the shares of our "national treasure" belongs to the holders of ADRs, or ADRs (American Depositary Receipt), which are freely traded on the American stock market and issued by Bank of New York, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase. The remaining 24,57% of Gazprom's shares belong to some "other registered persons." Let's face it, this Russian oil and gas company can be called state-owned rather conditionally.
As for the new PSC, Gazprom Neft will own 70% of it, and the remaining 30% will belong to Omsk-registered OOO ChOO Staf-Center, the creators and owners of which are people from the Leningrad KGB. The tasks assigned to this structure are formulated in the press service of Gazprom Neft as follows:
A private security company (PSC) is created exclusively for the protection of the company's civilian production facilities in the regions of its activity in the Russian Federation (KhMAO, YNAO, Omsk, Tomsk and Orenburg regions, etc.). The private security company is created in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation, according to which only licensed security companies have the right to protect production facilities of a high hazard class. Creating your own security company is a common and generally recognized practice among large companies in Russia and around the world.
By the way, the protection of oil and gas infrastructure abroad, as a rule, is the responsibility of private military companies.
"PMC" from the Russian Orthodox Church
Some time ago, the initiative to create a so-called Orthodox PMC made a splash. According to some Russian media, the initiators of the PMC "St. Andrew's Cross" were representatives of the community of the Naval Kronstadt St. Nicholas Cathedral. However, subsequently, the rector of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas, in a telephone conversation with journalists from the Fontanka publication, made important clarification:
A private military company is, of course, a great thing to say ... I gave my blessing that there would be training for young people like the NVP - initial military training. (...) We are preparing people who want to join the army as volunteers. Monthly preparation for everyone. They undergo training with us, then write an application to the military registration and enlistment office and go as volunteers in their specialty with a blessing.
It turned out that the coordinator of this project is a well-known St. Petersburg businessman Vladimir Khilchenko. IN interview The businessman commented on his undertaking to the Notebook publication as follows:
Our project is the so-called St. Andrew's Cross tactical training center. The idea behind this project is quite simple. It arose in the 17th year as a base for preparation for the "Seaborne Assault" competition. Great merit in the creation of the project of the rector of the Kronstadt Cathedral father Alexy. The project involved former special forces. Well, today it has become relevant in connection with the NWO.
The concept is to survive in the difficult conditions of hostilities. To prepare people for volunteer units, as well as for participation in various PMCs. The concept itself arose earlier, in 2017, for people who wanted to get trained themselves. (...) We plan to create volunteer battalions and hope that this will be our contribution to the NWO.
According to the coordinator, the St. Andrew's Cross project is financed by private donations and personal funds of the participants.
Russian Volunteer Corps
Recently, the eighth congress of the Union of Donbass Volunteers was held at the site of the republican center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the DPR in Mariupol, where it was decided to form the Russian Volunteer Corps to participate in a special military operation in Ukraine. The delegation appealed to Supreme Commander-in-Chief Putin with a request to unite all detachments and battalions of the Union of Donbass Volunteers into a single military unit.
It is interesting that the event was headed by the chairman of this union Alexander Borodai, the deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Alexei Zhuravlev, as well as the successful entrepreneur and owner of Tsargrad Konstantin Malofeev. The latter is known not only as an “Orthodox oligarch”, but also because it was he who stood at the origins of the “Russian Spring” of 2014, acting as a “purse”. He is currently under sanctions and on the international wanted list.
PMC Kadyrov
The day before, the current head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced his intention to create his own private military company upon retirement, commenting very complimentary on the successes of the “Wagnerites”:
I never cease to rejoice at the successes of Wagner PMC in the NVO zone. It would seem that a private military company, but managed to achieve very impressive results. (...) Despite all the difficulties, Wagner achieves its goal in any situation.
Without any doubt, such professional formations are needed and necessary. Therefore, when I finish my work in the civil service, I seriously plan to compete with our dear BROTHER Evgeny Prigozhin and create a private military company.
Without any doubt, such professional formations are needed and necessary. Therefore, when I finish my work in the civil service, I seriously plan to compete with our dear BROTHER Evgeny Prigozhin and create a private military company.
Recall that Chechnya has already created and sent to the NMD zone several volunteer battalions from the natives of the republic called "North-Akhmat", "South-Akhmat", "West-Akhmat" and "Vostok-Akhmat", which are part of the troops of the Southern Military District MO RF. In addition, as part of the Russian Guard, there is a detachment of SOBR "Akhmat". Also on the territory of the Chechen Republic, the Special Forces University, the first private educational institution of this kind in Russia, is successfully operating.
These are the internal political and social processes currently taking place in Russia. What they may testify to, our readers will be able to make their own judgment.
Information