According to UK Defence Intelligence, it is believed that Russia is actively developing new private military companies (PMCs) that could potentially replace the Wagner Group PMC in the ongoing war against Ukraine.

The Russian Federation is reportedly seeking to gradually replace the Wagner Group, a significant player in the conflict, with alternative PMCs. This shift is occurring in the context of a well-known dispute between the Russian Defence Ministry and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC.

It is likely that Russia’s military leadership desires a replacement PMC that offers greater control. However, currently, no other known Russian PMC matches the size or combat capabilities of Wagner.

UK Defence Intelligence suggests that Russia recognizes the ongoing value of PMCs in the Ukrainian conflict, as they are less constrained by limited pay levels and bureaucratic inefficiencies that can hinder the effectiveness of the regular military.

The intelligence agency also notes that Russia’s leadership may perceive that Russian society would be more tolerant of heavy casualties among PMCs compared to losses within the regular military.

Furthermore, Russia’s Ministry of Defence is engaged in a targeted information campaign aimed at restoring the reputation of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, which has become synonymous with Russia’s recent failures in Ukraine.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence update, as reported by European Pravda