[5] Mozart Group is not directly involved in combat (other than self-defence),[2] its volunteers do not carry weapons unless needed,[5] and it is compliant with the US Neutrality Acts which prohibit U.S. citizens from joining foreign militaries or launching wars against countries not at war with the U.S.[2] Milburn has said that Mozart Group has no contact with and receives no support from the U.S. government,[8] but that he wishes there was more contact with the U.S. government[3] and state funding from Western countries.
[2] Milburn co-founded the Mozart Group together with Andrew Bain, a businessman and fellow former Marine colonel who had been working in Ukraine in media and marketing for over 30 years.
[3] Nonetheless, many Mozart employees were combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and drinking problems, posing a challenge for the company's management.
[5] Milburn has said the U.S. government was concerned that providing funding to Mozart Group might transform it into a private military contractor involved in the war.
[3] Mozart Group ceased operations in January 2023 after exhausting its funds; it had raised over a million dollars in donations by the time it went defunct.
Mozart Group's website suffered a denial-of-service attack shortly after Prigozhin's remarks which were amplified in Russian media.
Milburn also said that he is in regular contact with Ukrainian intelligence and military official regarding the threat posed by Wagner PMC.
[5] In December 2022, The National, a Middle East English-language news outlet based in Abu Dhabi, reported - citing an anonymous Western security source operating in Ukraine - that military training of Ukrainian troops conducted by Mozart Group was greatly contributing to Ukrainian military capabilities.
As a result, Mozart Group members found themselves on a Wagner PMC kill list, with Milburn designated as the prime target.
In its final months, it was faced with defections, infighting, financial issues and a legal dispute between the Mozart Group's two co-founders.
[12] Serious allegations, arose accusing Milburn of making derogatory comments about Ukraine’s leadership while “significantly intoxicated,” letting his dog urinate in a borrowed apartment, diverting company funds and other financial malfeasance.
[citation needed] In an announcement on Twitter, Milburn also claimed that the company's name and legal entity became a distraction from the group's core mission.
Milburn immediately began an attempt to revive the operation, leasing a new office in Kyiv and setting off on a fundraising drive.