Following Russia’s unsuccessful assault on #Kyiv and northern #Ukraine, the Russian military has intensified its efforts in Ukraine’s east, particularly in the #Donetsk and #Luhansk Regions. But Russia’s #military has not been alone as its soldiers have edged slowly forward in recent weeks. Groups of irregular troops and fighters have also been seen in the area, operating alongside the Russian military in the direction of #Kharkiv Region.
Fighters from the #Wagner Private Military Company ( #PMC) have reportedly participated in the assault on the town of #Popasna. The National Bolshevik “Borey” group, meanwhile, has posted about their participation in an offensive in the #Donbas. The Cossack group, “Don”, is also reported to have been operating on the #Izyum front in the southern Kharkiv Region. (...)
Pavel Luzin, the Russian military analyst, told Bellingcat that groups like the #SDD – much like Ramzan #Kadyrov’s Chechen fighters – may be in Ukraine at least partly for PR reasons.
“All these mercenaries prevent the armed forces from increasing the popularity and political weight of the military within #Russia. The #war is conducted by unknown soldiers and officers, but the ‘volunteers’ are represented in official #media, mercenaries are represented in their social media and Chechens are represented on #TikTok”, said Luzin.
“So, the SDD together with other mercenaries are aimed to balance the armed forces and the officer corps from posing a potential political threat for the #Kremlin”.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/06/17/meet-the-irregular-troops-backing-up-russias-army-in-the-donbas #farright #rusich #nazi
