Russian forces create PMCs in Crimea as they prepare for fighting – intelligence

Andrii Cherniak, representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, said this in an interview with Ukrinform. 

“The invading forces are creating so-called 'private military companies' in preparation for hostilities on the peninsula. But to a large extent, this step is also being taken for the sake of personal security and for the inviolability of looted property. In fact, the Russian corporation Gazprom is creating its own private military company for this purpose,” explained Cherniak.

He also said that the occupying troops keep a fairly powerful grouping in Crimea, both at sea and on land. Cherniak said that the enemy currently has about 90 combat aircraft and 60 combat helicopters on the annexed peninsula.

In particular, he emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are taking this into account when preparing a plan to liberate Crimea.

“Of course, we are constantly monitoring the situation on the peninsula, carefully analyzing the intelligence received to take into account all factors and assess all risks when planning the operation to liberate Crimea,” Cherniak said.

• The head of the annexed Crimea has created his own paramilitary structure, the Convoy PMC, commanded by Konstantin Pikalov (call sign Mazai), who previously supervised the Wagner soldiers in Africa.

• Denys Chystikov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, said that the creation of the Convoy private military company on the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula is explained by the lack of security forces to “ensure order.”