Oleg served in Syria in the military unit, which on paper does not officially exist, but which was known as “Wagner Group” or “musicians”, He fought on the side of the Syrian pro-government forces and formed of experienced fighters on the order of the RF Ministry of Defense. Oleg took part in the battles for the liberation of Palmyra. His salary is 4500 Euros per month plus bonuses.
Russia launched a military operation in Syria, torn by civil war, more than a year ago - 30 September 2015 of the year. Since then, much has changed. If then the house Asadov held narrow squeak, after the Russian intervention loyalists managed to repel Palmyra in the Islamic state and to win a landslide victory in Aleppo.
All these successes badly battered in the hell of war, the Syrian Arab Army (Farm) It would have been unthinkable without the support of Russia. It causes air and missile attacks on opponents of the government forces, supplying arms and trains some units.
Officially a part of the Russian contingent of soldiers there, who perform “dirty work” - people “Wagner group”. Such a unit or a private military company is not formally exist. But it is on paper. In reality, however, the Russians had time to do some fighting in different parts of Syria against the Islamic State, and against “green” - the various factions, which in the West are considered moderate opposition.
the question, why Oleg went to Syria, he answers: “I was an employee, but in this war I do not care. I like this job, if it did not like, I have not worked there”.
Oleg does not bother, that he may be called an assassin: “And there is, I went for the money. Yes it can and easier, actually?”. Having met on the street, you do not recognize in him a soldier of fortune - Hollywood cliches do not work. A regular guy. humourist, in whose eyes welling with tears, when he remembers fallen comrades.
New Slavic housing
“Wagner Group” - no ordinary private military company. This is a miniature army. “We had a full set of: mortars, gaubitsы, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers”, - explains Oleg.
In some circles, divisions called musicians fighters: allegedly the commander of unit chosen callsign after the German composer Richard Wagner. According to some reports, for this call sign is hiding 47-year-old lieutenant colonel Dmitry Utkin. He served in the Special Forces in Pechory. In Syria, for the first time - before it is officially worked with the private military company, known as “Slavic housing”.
The company hired the Syrian barons for protection of oil fields and columns in Deir ez-Zor. However, in October 2013 at Al-Suhna city guards got into serious trouble: We have entered into an unequal battle with the jihadists of the Islamic State. “I told the participants, magical carnage, almost a counter battle for the city. Almost two thousand fighters against the two or three hundred, guards”, - says Oleg.
Following these events, the contract between the customer and the guards broke. According to Oleg, We could not agree on payment: “Syrian bumps” They refused to pay extra for more dangerous work, and began to threaten the Russians. “Slavic housing” left Syria.
IN “Wagner group” other, more serious customer - Ministry of Defense (MO RF). Before the redeployment in the autumn of Syria 2015 of the year “musicians” held a three-month training at the site Molkino in direct proximity to the base of the separate brigade of special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
In Syria “Wagner Group” I got on the aircraft. And these were not the liners “Aeroflot”, smiling, says Oleg. Fighters carried on a transport aircraft of the 76th Airborne Division, which is deployed in the Pskov region.
“Pskov side we drove. From Molkino bus to Moscow: get passports. From there to the Chkalovsky, with Chkalovsky to Mozdok on airplanes. Two hours for refueling and maintenance. And the flight five hours: over Kaspiem, Iran, Iraq and landing on the basis Hmeymim. Turkey does not miss - can not be directly”, – explains fighter. After arrival they were placed in the sports complex of the city, Oleg who prefer not to call.
technique, including artillery and tanks, threw the sea with the help of the so-called “Syrian Express” - the ships of the Russian Navy from Novorossiysk in Tartous. From different sources we know, that the group was sent to Syria twice: for a short period in the fall 2015 year and to participate in a long-term operation in the winter-spring of the following year. Each trip - a separate contract.
Usually, people Wagner - experienced fighters, past few conflicts. And although the announcement of the recruitment in the newspapers do not see, group had not experienced problems with staff recruitment.
Oleg admits, that went to Wagner is not the first time - do not trust: “practically, get an acquaintance and only. As such, there is a set of free. When dialing spend a couple of tests: on alcohol and drug use. Further physical tests. Actually, no exams”.
Among vagnerovtsev not a few of those, who fought in the Donbass on the side of separatists. They are further tested on a polygraph. Can even ask, if they are not agents of the FSB - the security services do not favor in Wagner. The group has its own security department, who fights with leaks of information. Find photos Russian condottieri on the network - a great success. This offense, which carries serious penalties for the guilty.
The Syrian soldiers were paid 300 000 rubles (about 4500 euro) per month plus bonuses. There was also a kind of insurance system: Wound around 300 000 rubles and coating of high-quality treatment in hospitals expenses. For the deaths - five million rubles family. Although legally a contract with a group of Wagner - a tiny piece of paper, Oleg confirms: paid every cent and more. But not talking about the complete safety.
– I.e, you at least some protection have?
– From what?
– from the state.
– from the state, I think, no.
Gone Ljuty
Syrian Civil War is merciless - is intertwined interests of many countries. On both sides of the front are fighting hundreds of groups with different motivations, but no one can not deny the atrocities. Why Russia this stupid war, Oleg prefers not to think. “Smart wars I have not yet seen”, - he parries.
According to Oleg, in the government-controlled areas reigns predominantly secular way of life. Woman in burqa - a rarity, although many wear the hijab. In liberated areas of Latakia local population rather for Assad.
“In Latakia around portraits of Assad and Hafez Assad - father of President. And locals do not show the relationship. This is a civil war - you either, or against. If you try to be neutral, to you, likely, will be bad”, - describes Oleg.
Local belong to Russian well, Syrian military and almost idolized. “We are for them - Russia. know, they are very happy, that Russian came. Finally, think they, I can sit back and drink mate, let Russian war, - smiling, says Oleg. - When we arrived in one city, they are there all night dancing in the squares, They fired into the air with joy. But as they then upset, when we left!”.
The once prosperous Murek after leaving Russian “musicians” Syrians left. Years of war have exhausted manpower reserves of the Syrian Arab Army. Coupled with the lack of fighting spirit and military training, combat-ready units are only a few: “At first, they have no training: they do not even know how to shoot. Secondly, their appalling attitude to arms: they did not even clean”.
In many ways, therefore,, according to data from different sources, “Wagner group” It was used as a fire brigade - it worked there, where it was the most difficult and, except for the operation under Palmyra, small groups.
“We were always there, where were the dregs, hell itself. All that I have seen - is the terrible hell, - Oleg does not conceal contempt for the Syrian militia and military, which, According to him, it is impossible to distinguish. - Do not bring the Lord, to have such allies. Because they are always about *** vayut task. Always”.
In Latakia due to inactivity Syrians “Wagner group” suffered heavy losses. Oleg retells heard from colleagues that the circumstances of the battle with ill-concealed irritation. On that day, the Russians had to cover up the attack on the Syrian mountain and to suppress enemy firing points on the neighboring heights. After graduating from the artillery training Syrians refused to go on the attack. Wagner's group had to take a job on. Climbing Mount passed without incident, but at the top, Russians have come under fire from three sides.
“Mount completely naked. If you're not in the trenches - the end. there are wounded, they need to evacuate. How many people retire? At least two drag, other cover. Path, at which children were raised came under fire - you can not go. I had to go down the slope mined”, - says Oleg.
Wagner fighters lost that day about twenty people wounded and none killed.
The Russians tried to raise allies attack force - jumped into their trenches and shot at his feet, but they would not budge. “And the Syrians did not stop the fire height. It turns out, our shot in the ass. It was hell”, - complains Oleg.
According to him, autumn “Wagner Group” lost in killed about 15 human. Half of them in one day: from bursting munition camp. What was it, Oleg does not know, It sounded version of the mortar mine or bomb the US. Winter and spring losses were greater, but exact figures, he could not be called.
This is not the only reason, why Oleg dislikes government forces. “They steal all, that is not nailed. drag all: tubes, wiring, even tore off tile. Saw, both dragged toilet”, - he explains. About the penalties for looting the Syrians Oleg heard.
Srazhalys for Palmyra
However, Oleg do not think much about “babakhakh” - the so-called armed opposition, which is considered to be moderate in the West. According to him, under the concept of the Free Syrian Army to be understood hundreds of groups, including Islamist, periodically fighting each other for territory: “They also need something to eat”. While it is recognized: “Greens - different”.
“Turkomans - the good guys. Good, respect. desperate fight, because of their villages are fighting. If you leave the village, leave all. They do other people. For the Syrians, it would be advantageous to drive them out completely Latakia. In fact - the ethnic cleansing”, - he states.
AT 2016 year “Wagner group” combined and transferred by Palmyra - to fight the Islamic State. If you fall in Syria were about 600 mercenaries, the winter-spring of their number has doubled. “Under Palmyra it has been easier, because we have driven all together and we performed a holistic task”, - says Oleg.
According to him, as such, the fighting in the city had no. In difficult battles “Wagner group” It took all important heights, Jihadists then simply left the devastated city: “There, behind the ridge lies the highway. Our withdrew tanks and began to destroy all, that it moved. Nazhgli bunch of machines. Then he went for trophies”.
Igilovtsy proved as fanatical fighters: they sow fear among Iraqis, and the Syrians. Oleg also points, that certainly good fight Islamists from Europe, but they are not faced with such. “black” - too different. They have a local militia: a fighter machine and nothing else. fight this “the black” also can not. There was a case. Observers reported - arrived on unknown machines, lined wedge and go for us. Their artillery covered, No one shot with a machine gun - all put”, - he recalls.
However, on the side of the Islamists, there are obvious advantages: “They are very competent. Our occupied Ridge, and they went away from Palmyra: Stalingrad did not hold. Why do it - people have preserved and moved. And now there are constant small injections, constantly attack the Syrians”.
After completing the task, Wagner's group left the city. winners laurels went to the Syrian troops, which went into an empty city. However, extracted Russians win government troops have not kept: 11 December 2016 , the Islamists recaptured Palmyra.
The fall of the city - an eloquent confirmation, that despite all the recent successes, War is far from over. Assad supporters were able to operate everywhere - do not have the strength and specialists. And not just at the front: “Wagner group” use including repair of equipment.
“In Hama, there is a huge armored plant. Before the arrival of our guys Syrians repaired by two tanks per month. When we arrived our, they became immediately give 30 tanks per month. We worked from morning till evening: them there, poor, even in the city were not allowed. Work hard as slaves - night fell without legs. Our all gone, and these repairers there remained”, - laughing, She recalls Oleg.
“Wagner group” brought from Syria in the late spring of this year,. The last operation was the Russians sweep neighborhoods near the airport near Palmyra. “Among palm trees and a labyrinth of stone fences”, – says mercenary.
Since then, signs of involvement of Russian condottieri in this war was not fixed. After the liberation of Palmyra Ministry of Defense held in the ancient amphitheater city concert. Played music of Prokofiev. Quite possible, that musicians can announce in this town again. Only this will “musicians” with guns - ghost “Wagner group”.
Oleg ready: “certainly go. Although Africa will go, Jesus. No matter where, I really like this job”.
Arthur Zakharov
in business guy – respect!