More than five thousand mercenaries are recruited by the Russian Federation to fight in wars in different parts of the world, according to Vasyl Hrytsak, the head of the SBU [Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrainy – Security Service of Ukraine]. The largest and most famous group made up of mercenaries is the private military company “Wagner.”
Read also: Wagner mercenaries: what we know about Putin’s private army in Donbas
In Ukraine, efforts are being made to gather evidence so that the mercenaries can be brought to account for their actions. According to Russian law, fighting as a mercenary is a criminal offense. A database of evidence is being prepared by the SBU to expose the mercenaries to the world. Tatiana Kebkalo, deputy manager of the consulting company Omega Consulting Group, has said that it is wholly realistic to expect that an international court of law would consider hearing the case against the mercenaries. The SBU claims that almost the entire arsenal of the Russian army is at the disposal of the mercenaries. “Wagner” is situated at a Russian military base.
In Russia, the percentage of the 2018 budget allocated for the military has been increased from 32% to 38%. A big share of that money is earmarked for the mercenaries fighting for private companies, according to the SBU.
Read also:
- Wagner mercenaries: what we know about Putin’s private army in Donbas
- Moscow’s private military companies continue to be a serious threat in Ukraine
- ‘Spetsnaz of the USSR’ – the new Russian irregulars in Syria now fighting for Assad
- Putin comes up with another way to hide Russian combat losses
