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Chechen Muslim leader Ramzan Kadyrov (left) wants to set up a mercenary group after being smitten with the success of Russia’s Wagner Group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Photo/REUTERS
MOSCOW – Chechen Muslim leader Russia Ramzan Kadyrov, said he wanted to set up a private military company (PMC) upon retirement from leaving the state service.
He said he was impressed by the success PMC Wagner Group in the war in Ukraine. Kadyrov wants the mercenary group he will set up to compete with Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner.
“A private military company has managed to achieve very impressive results,” Kadyrov said in a post on Telegram, referring to the Wagner Group’s effective operations in Ukraine.
“The PMC’s assault brigade also did a very difficult job,” he continued, as quoted by Russia Today, Monday (20/2/2023).
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In January, Wagner Group soldiers played a key role in capturing the main city of Soledar in the Donbass amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense commended the Wagner Group’s “brave and selfless act” following its successful offensive. The Russian mercenary group was also the first to claim control of the city of Soledar before confirmation from the Defense Ministry.
According to Kadyrov, the Chechen army is well aware of the capabilities of the Wagner Group.
According to him, the Chechen Special Forces Unit; Akhmat, has fought side by side with the Wagner Group since the early days of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin visited one of Akhmat’s commanders, Apti Alautdinov, in hospital. The visit won praise from Kadyrov.
“The Wagner (Group) has clearly proven its military effectiveness and brought all debate about the need for private military companies to shut down,” the Chechen leader said on Sunday, adding that such a professional entity was needed and needed.
He later revealed that he planned to set up such a company himself once he left his position in the Chechen government. But he did not provide a specific timeline for his plans.
The Wagner Group is currently at the forefront of Russian efforts to capture Artyomovsk, a key Donbas junction city that has endured months of heavy fighting and is now on the verge of being surrounded by Russian troops.
The private military company’s past achievements have also received widespread international attention, with the United States last month declaring it a “transnational criminal organization.”
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