Recruitment continues: British intelligence tells how many mercenaries the Russian PMC Redoubt has

The Redoubt private military company (PMC) recruits mercenaries under the guise of "volunteers," including former Wagner representatives. The group may number more than 7,000 people.

This is stated in the UK military intelligence report released on October 16. The agency noted that the activities of the Redoubt PMC, including recruitment, are likely controlled and financed by the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU ) of the Russian General Staff.

Thus, since the beginning of the invasion, Redoubt has taken part in battles against Ukraine in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Luhansk regions, the report says.

Currently, Redoubt is one of several PMCs and "volunteer corps" used by the Russian Ministry of Defense to replenish regular forces.

"It is possible that the Russian Ministry of Defense's practice of recruiting through 'volunteer' units has contributed to Russia's avoidance of further unpopular mobilizations," the British intelligence service said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- A video interview of a captured mercenary of the Redoubt PMC appeared online, in which he explained his participation in the battles in Kharkiv region by his lack of knowledge of geography. The occupier admitted that before being captured, he had not thought about why Russia decided to seize other territories of Ukraine after Donbas.

- Investigative journalists found out that the Russian GRU created the Redoubt PMC as a shadow army. Officially, it is positioned as a volunteer formation, but in reality, mercenaries are covertly recruited there for military intelligence of the aggressor.

- Law enforcement officers identified a mercenary of the Redoubt PMC who tortured civilians during the occupation of Balakliya. 34-year-old Sultan Pashtov, together with three occupants, set up a torture chamber on the territory of the seized police station, where dozens of abducted Ukrainians were taken.

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