(Dan Tri) – British intelligence said that Russia appears to have sent another private military force to Ukraine to replace Wagner on the front lines.
Wagner soldiers in Rostov, Russia during the riot on June 24 (Photo: Reuters).
On October 16, the British Ministry of Defense posted an intelligence report saying that Russia’s private military force Redut appeared to have replaced Wagner’s position in the frontline area in Ukraine.
British intelligence said that Redut was recruiting mercenaries under the guise of `volunteers`, including those who had operated in the Wagner group.
He said that the Russian Military Intelligence Agency (GRU) seems to be the force controlling Redut.
Since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine last year, Redut is said to have participated in battles in Donetsk, Kharkov, Kiev and Lugansk.
He said that the Russian Ministry of Defense currently manages a number of private military forces and volunteer units that play a role in reinforcing the regular army.
London said that Russia’s increased recruitment of members for private military groups seems to be a way for Moscow to avoid having to encourage new recruits to join the army.
Russia has not commented on the information provided by British intelligence.
Previously, Russian media reported that Wagner soldiers appeared to have returned to the Bakhmut area, Donetsk front to counterattack Ukraine.
The majority of Wagner soldiers returning to Bakhmut this time seem to be on the payroll of two other private military groups, Redut and Volunteer Corps.
The source said that Redut has offered more attractive welfare conditions to recruit Wagner soldiers, including salary increases and benefits for veterans.
According to sources, Redut appears to be under the supervision of retired Russian colonel Andrey Troshev.
Last month, military website Avia Pro quoted sources saying that the Wagner company may merge with the Russian Guard and still retain its name, symbol and flag.
If Wagner truly merges with the Russian Guard, the group’s soldiers will have to sign a contract directly with the country’s Ministry of Defense, according to mandatory regulations from Moscow.
Speculation about Wagner’s future has increased after Russian private military company tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin and other senior Wagner members died in a plane crash on August 23.
To date, the cause of the crash is unknown, although President Putin said that Moscow had found grenade fragments on the bodies of the victims – a sign that seemed to indicate that the plane crashed because it exploded from the outside.
Currently, Wagner’s fate has become a topic of media concern because the group has not yet announced who will replace the role of tycoon Prigozhin in the future.
