Privatization

According to the GUR, the new PMC will be created in line with existing Russian legislation that allows companies operating within the realm of the fuel-energy ...

Moreover, being fully aware of the huge losses suffered by Wagner in Ukraine—as of the end of January 2023, Wagner is rumored to have lost up to 30 percent of its forces during severe fighting in Donbas ( [Ava.md,](https://ava.md/2023/01/30/trupami-zekov-vylozhena-doroga-prigozhina/) January 30)—other actors (including direct competitors) in Russia could be prone to challenge the dominant shadow security provider within Russia. Instead, he complained that the main enemies of Wagner are inside Russia—forces that are trying to “steal” his victory and diminish the role of the group in the so-called “special military operations” in Ukraine. In fact, some argue that the Kremlin has used legal altercations between Prigozhin and illustrious journalist Alexei Venediktov to weaken the position of Wagner’s patron and curator ( [Espreso.tv](https://espreso.tv/v-isw-znayshli-novi-dokazi-shcho-kreml-boitsya-vplivu-prigozhina), February 7). [Gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-condemns-north-korea-for-supplying-arms-to-russian-mercenary-group-fighting-in-russias-illegal-war-in-ukraine), December 22, 2022; [News.liga.net](https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/chvk-vagnera-tratit-bolee-100-mln-v-mesyats-na-operatsii-svoih-grupp-v-ukraine-belyy-dom), December 23, 2022). Moreover, according to some investigative reports, Wagner-associated contractors—whose services were commissioned by Gazprom—were allegedly employed to complete security-related work in Syria, where one operative was killed in 2017 in Homs province ( [Svoboda.org](https://www.svoboda.org/a/29856722.html), April 8, 2019). In supporting such claims, these experts have utilized British intelligence that alleges monthly expenditures for Wagner (and its founder Prigozhin) are reaching $100 million ( However, in Russia there is a serious struggle against us [Wagner Group] to drive us away from there. On February 7, the press service of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR) issued a statement revealing that one of Russia’s largest energy companies, Gazprom Neft, is now creating its own private military company (PMC). Even before that, throughout the 1990s, powerful Russian figures and private companies were actively relying on services of so-called PSCs ( Many experts argue that Gazprom Neft’s decision was not only motivated by commercial or pecuniary interests but by a number of other aspects as well. The document presented by the GUR stated that, of the capital authorized to the PMC, 70 percent belongs to Gazprom Neft and the remaining 30 percent to “Staf-tsentr” private security company (PSC). According to Russian sources, the company is officially registered in Omsk, where Gazprom Neft has an oil refinery.