- Journalists found about 800 job advertisements for ex-Wagnerians
- Wiorstka writes that former participants in the wars are mainly looking for work in the security service as drivers, contract soldiers, bodyguards, guards and OMON members.
- Relatives of former Wagnerians say that after a while, many of them begin to think about returning to the war. Some to make money, others because they don’t have a place in civil life
- Relatives also report violence from mercenaries and admit they fear for their safety
- More important information can be found on the Onet home page
Kremlin’s Revenge for Rebellion
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the so-called Wagner group, and other representatives of the management of this mercenary military organization died in a plane crash in Tver Oblast, Russia, on August 23. According to most analysts, their death was the Kremlin’s revenge for the June uprising of this formation.
To date, the future fate of the Wagner Group remains unclear, insists the Russian website Wiorstka. Some former mercenaries went to Africa, some fought in Ukraine under the command of the Ministry of Defense, they joined Roskvartia (Russian National Guard) or Akhmad units of Chechen special forces.
There are those who have returned to public life. However, not everyone can cope after returning; Many companies refuse to hire former mercenaries despite amnesty, and the portal points out that the police continue to exercise administrative control over some of them.
As Wierstka writes, Wagner Group’s official Telegram channel shows that the company is currently not participating in the war in Ukraine and is operating in Africa. However, many ex-Wagnerians still participate in combat under contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, Roskvartia, or the private military company Reduta.
It is not known how many people are currently known as the Wagner group. In late October, Russian media reported that the group, now led by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s son Pavel, had resumed recruitment in Russia. It is important to note that contracts should be signed with all interested parties aged 20-55. The amount of wages depends on the place where the mercenary is sent. Fees range from PLN 80,000 to PLN 240,000. Ruble (approximately PLN 3.6 thousand to PLN 10.8 thousand).
– Everything was the same – attributes, signs. We take people who already have combat experience, including those who have already been in a private military company. The only difference is that we take people from “the public” and not from places where liberty is taken away, a representative of the Wagner Group told the media. He confirmed that the Wagnerites in Roskvartia were led by Prigogine’s son.
What happens to the Wagnerites? Media: Looking for a security job, drinking
Many pardoned prisoners who fought in Ukraine do not want to return to the war and are looking for work. Journalists found about 800 job advertisements for ex-Wagnerians. Wiorstka writes that former participants in the wars are mainly looking for work in the security service as drivers, contract soldiers, bodyguards, guards and OMON members.
When describing their experience, many of them refer to their participation in military operations, writing that they “defended the interests of Russia” or “attacked homes.” There are also advertisements looking for jobs as a personal driver or store manager.
Wierstka points out that many Wagnerites struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from war; They use their earned money to buy drugs and become addicted to alcohol.
– I can’t understand what’s going on here. It’s not for me. I want it back. It takes two or three weeks to change. I used to sleep in trenches, not soft beds … sheets and duvets – not for me. I want to go back. The holidays will end and I will go to Ukraine in November, Leonid Ivanenko from St. Petersburg, a former Wagnerian, told Wierstka.
“He drinks like mad. He has white fever.”
Relatives of former Wagnerians say that after a while, many of them begin to think about returning to the war. Some to make money, others because they don’t have a place in civil life.
– There are constant conversations about his desire to go back (to war), Marina, a member of the close-knit “Wagnerites” chat room, complains.
– Mine has been at home for two weeks, he doesn’t want to work anywhere, he wants to go to war. Svetlana writes that there are boys there and I want to help them, and he doesn’t listen to anything I say.
– He drinks like crazy. He got white fever. He runs into the yard, digs a trench – complains Alexandra from Rostov Oblast.
– My son came back in March, left the colony (he was imprisoned for drugs) and joined the Wagner group, he spent every kopeck of money within 3-4 months. He went back to drugs. The bottom is broken. He agreed to treatment. (…) I have debts again! As always! Screen – Talks about her son Soja’s return from Ukraine.
Relatives also report violence from mercenaries and admit they fear for their safety. – He came at three in the morning, smashed my car with a hammer and beat me badly. (…) Fortunately, the child was asleep and did not see anything. But I have never seen him in such a state, he had such anger in his eyes, he beat me so hard… – says Gulshad.
There are reports in the Russian information space about crimes committed by ex-Wagnerians. On Monday, for example, The Moscow Times reported that two former mercenaries had been arrested in Dagestan for kidnapping a man and demanding a ransom.
The portal reminds that according to American estimates, by the end of 2022, the Wagner group was 50,000. People, of which 40 thousand were recruited in Russian penal colonies. In February, when the ex-prisoners reached the end of a six-month deal, Vladimir Putin began granting amnesty to convicts.
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