Russia is looking to create and fund alternative private military companies (PMCs) to take over the Wagner Group’s significant combat involvement in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defence. The decision comes amid a high-profile dispute between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. According to the MOD, Russia’s military leadership is looking for a replacement PMC over which it will have more influence.
Despite this, no other known Russian PMC comes close to Wagner Group in terms of size or combat strength. Nonetheless, Russia appears to see PMCs as continuing to be useful in Ukraine due to their ability to work with less constraint than regular military forces.
Furthermore, it is believed that Russia’s leadership believes that heavy casualties among PMCs are better tolerated by Russian society than normal military losses.
The MOD update said: “Russia likely sees continued utility for PMCs in Ukraine because they are less constrained by the limited pay levels and inefficiency which hamper the effectiveness of the regular army.
“Russia’s leadership probably believe heavy casualties amongst PMCs will be better tolerated by Russian society compared to regular military losses.”
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