Russian private military company
Patriot (Russian : ЧВК «Патриот») is a Russianprivate military and security company (PMSC), which has been deployed byRussia in theRussian invasion of Ukraine and has also conducted operations inAfrica .
Patriot operates under the command ofRussian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and theMilitary Intelligence Service (GRU).[ 3] [ 4] Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is believed to have strong influence over the company.[ 5] [ 6]
Unlike theWagner Group , Patriot focuses more on experienced soldiers with combat experience when recruiting. Themercenaries are also better equipped and trained compared to Wagner's soldiers.[ 7] US dollars .[ 8]
Following the death ofWagner's leadership , Patriot was named as a possible candidate to profit off of decreasing Wagner group operations.[ 9]
Syria : According to several media reports, members of the military company had been active in Syria from the spring of 2018.[ 10] [ 11] Wagner group , Patriot mercenaries were said to be more active in the personal protection sector.[ 12] ^ "PMC Patriot" . 2018.^ https://pism.pl/publications/not-just-wagner-russia-backing-a-host-of-semi-private-military-companies ^ "PMC Patriot" .OpenSanctions.org . 2018. Retrieved2025-06-26 .^ pism.pl https://pism.pl/publications/not-just-wagner-russia-backing-a-host-of-semi-private-military-companies . Retrieved2025-09-13 .{{cite web }}:Missing or empty|title= (help ) ^a b c d e "Shoigu sendet eigene Söldner an die Front" [Shoigu sends his own mercenaries to the front].n-tv.de (in German). Archived fromthe original on 28 December 2022. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2023 .^ Lozovenko, Tetiana."Shoigu deploys his Private Military Company, which competes with Wagner Group, to war against Ukraine" .pravda.com.ua . Archived fromthe original on 28 December 2022. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2023 . ^a b "Wagner versus Patriot: Fighting for Mercenary Control" .warsawinstitute.org . 12 July 2018.Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2023 .^ "Russia's New PMC Patriot: The Kremlin's Bid for a Greater Role in Africa?" .Jamestown .Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2023 .^ Motie, Seda; Roth, Jonas; Manz, Kaspar (24 August 2023)."Mit Prigoschins Tod zerbricht die Wagner-Gruppe – aber das lukrative Geschäft mit dem Krieg geht weiter" [The lucrative business of war: Even after Prigozhin's death, private armies will continue to flourish in Russia].Neue Zürcher Zeitung the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved14 September 2023 . ^ "Russian private military companies proliferate 'to make money on war' .euromaidanpress.com . 13 October 2018. Archived fromthe original on 21 October 2022. RetrievedMay 3, 2023 .^ "Moscow dispatches even more 'private military companies' to Syria and Africa" .euromaidanpress.com . 5 July 2018. Archived fromthe original on 21 October 2022. RetrievedMay 3, 2023 .^ Яппаровой, Лилии (Yapparova, Lilia) (5 July 2018)."В Сирии начала воевать новая российская ЧВК" [A new Russian PMC began to fight in Syria].TV Rain the original on 27 December 2022. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2023 . {{cite news }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Яппаровой, Лилии (Yapparova, Lilia) (28 September 2018)."Источники Дождя: к убийству журналистов в ЦАР может быть причастна ЧВК "Патриот" [TV Rain sources: PMC "Patriot" may be involved in the murder of journalists in the CAR].TV Rain the original on 3 May 2023. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2023 . {{cite news }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Яппаровой, Лилии (Yapparova, Lilia) (5 July 2018)."Золото Вагнера. Сколько платят за живых и мертвых наемников, как российские военные компании делят Африку, и кто стоит за новой ЧВК «Патриот»: Рассказы бойцов и их родных в репортаже Лилии Яппаровой" [Wagner's Gold. How much do they pay for living and dead mercenaries, how Russian military companies divide Africa, and who is behind the new PMC "Patriot": Stories of fighters and their relatives in the report of Lilia Yapparova].TV Rain the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved25 September 2023 . {{cite news }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Яппаровой, Лилии (Yapparova, Lilia) (12 July 2018)."Как российские частные армии осваивают Африку" [How Russian private armies are mastering Africa].TV Rain the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved25 September 2023 . {{cite news }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
