A new revelation about the role of the Russian energy giant Gazprom comes to light. According to her publication Wall Street Journal, the company actively contributes to the provision of soldiers for the front line of the war in Ukraine. As indicated the supply of fighters has received Kremlin approval since early February.
The Russian energy giant is reportedly setting up “security companies”, essentially mercenary companies, recruiting fighters to bolster the Russian regular army. Mercenary armies, according to the Wall Street Journal, were created under the guise of the security needs of Russia’s energy sector.
However, many of them were sent to Ukraine shortly after being recruited. Some, as reported, without their will. “I want to say to my colleagues at Gazprom: Don’t go to Ukraine,” a former Gazprom guard says in a video obtained by the Wall Street Journal. The man in question was reportedly sent to Ukraine and injured in the fighting.
The main destination of the new mercenaries, according to the publication, is Bahamut, the city in eastern Ukraine that has been the main battleground in recent times.
The new recruitment of mercenaries may also be connected with the Kremlin break with Yevgeny Prigozhinleader of the infamous mercenary organization Wagner. It is recalled that Prigozhin has announced the withdrawal of his mercenaries from Bahamut, after having first denounced in extreme tones criminal errors, omissions and abandonment by the Russian regular army and the Ministry of Defense. Yes, in his last messages he also put Vladimir Putin in the “frame” of criticism, angering the Russian leadership with his attitude.
The Wall Street Journal report states that compared to Wagner, Gazprom’s mercenaries are fewer in number, yet better trained. Wagner’s mercenaries have a reputation for being particularly violent, murderous and ruthless fighters, yet their losses on the Ukrainian fronts were so heavy that they are recognized as the “consumables” of the Russians. It is indicative that the Ukrainians often called them “cannon fodder”. Prigozhin claims that the reason was that they did not have the necessary support, both operationally and in equipment.
According to information cited by the Wall Street Journal, Vladimir Putin appears reluctant to proceed with new conscription a fact that strengthens the interest but also the need for the creation of private – mercenary armies in Russiawhich could cover manpower shortages in the Ukraine war.
Source: News Beast
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