[24][25][26][27] According to an RFE/RL investigation, concurrent "Redut" is controlled by the GRU and acts as a proxy umbrella organization for mercenaries, managing finances, recruitment and logistical supply of various formations.

[28] It is an affiliate or former branch of the Antiterror-Orel offshoot Tiger Top Rent Security[29] and primarily recruits soldiers of the Russian 45th Guards Special Reconnaissance Brigade.

Alexeyev himself was engaged not only in the military part, but also in the political one—he had to organize the transfer of power to new hands and negotiated this with Ukrainian politicians, for example with Mykola Azarov.

[15][16] Despite the heavy casualties, Redut PMC grew sharply to around 7,000 soldiers in 2023,[11] in part due to recruitment of prisoners and labor migrants from e.g. CIS states.

[41] Shortly before the death of Wagner founders Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, Redut began preparation to enter Africa, focusing recruitment efforts on this area.

[12] According to Mark Galeotti, director of Mayak Intelligence, Redut has emerged as the main Russian PMC and is much more active in Africa and Syria.

[55] Rondeaux states that under Russian law, one wing of Redut is categorized as a "military training centre" and the whole is in her opinion "not a PMC, not some sort of special company" though she admits that it has extraterritorial operations.

[58] A leaked contract referred to Redut as "RLSPI", which is described as a construction company registered in Rostov-on-Don, without mentioning military service.

"RLSPI" is a regional laboratory for socio-psychological research [Unit 35555] under the Russian Ministry of Defense, located in Rostov-on-Don and belonging to the GRU, which is not indicated in the document.

Since the annexation of four Ukrainian Oblasts, salary is paid in Ruble instead of Dollars, since Russian authorities don't consider these territories as foreign anymore.

[59] This contradicts a statement by State Duma deputy Maxim Ivanov, who assured that "Redut" and its units signed contracts with the Ministry of Defence.

[60] As reported by iStories in October 2023, women are also being recruited into the ranks of Redut's formation "Borz Battalion" now, as snipers and drone operators.

[69] Along with the Africa Corps, the formation was created to fill the void of the declining Wagner Group, and to tighten the MoD's grip on existing Russian private paramilitary structures abroad.

The unit has seen action in the country of Burkina Faso, where it was ordered to assist the pro-Russian authoritarian military junta against Islamist terror attacks.

[54] Parts of the formation were called home to aid Russian forces during the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast in late August 2024.

[70] The reconnaissance and sabotage detachment "Wolves Battalion" is a Russian mercenary formation that is subordinate to Redut and overseen by the 16th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade.

Requirements for application are full name and date of birth, a drivers license, background on military and civilian skills, and the criminal and health record.

After they regrouped, the battalion was deployed to Kharkiv Oblast in September to resist Ukraine's liberation efforts there, taking heavy casualties.

[12] Notably, these four Redut fighters were discovered in their hideout and arrested, and later all convicted for the war crime of torture in a Ukrainian court.

Required for joining is experience with small arms, 21 to 55 years of age, good physical shape, Russian passport and military identification.

They are a well equipped with high quality weaponry, like drones and UAVs, APCs, MBTs, IFVs, logistical vehicles, automatic grenade launchers, mortars and artillery systems.

Ukrainian intelligence reported that Española pays volunteers 220,000 rubles (£1,900) a month and offers lucrative insurance payouts.

[80] "Española" fighters were involved in the assault on Azovstal in direct engagements with the Azov Brigade, in combat on the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia fronts, as well as near Uglezdar, Avdiivka[81] and Bakhmut.

[13] Sources in the PMC say that the formations called "Ilimovtsy", "Hooligans", "Marines" and "Axes" were involved in the early days of the Northern Ukraine campaign.

[6] Redut receives its funding through the Russian Ministry of Defense, with General Vladimir Alexeyev (GRU) being a main patron.

[16][13][84] Other major backers of the company are said to be Oleg Deripaska and Gennady Timchenko, according to information provided by the website Gulagu.net founded by Russian dissident Vladimir Osechkin, which cites a Redut deputy commander testifying under cover names.

[13] On February 24, 2023, Redut was designated a Russian mercenary force—controlled by and linked to the GRU—fighting Ukraine by the United States Department of the Treasury,[87][25] according to executive order "E.O.

[88] Ukrainian lawmakers approved Resolution "#3735" on February 9, 2023, recognizing Redut and other Russian private military companies as terrorist organizations.

On February 22, 2024, Redut was included in the UK sanctions list as a PMC “which, according to available data, is engaged in recruiting and sending militants to serve alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.”.

During the interrogation process, they were thrown into a pit for three days without food and water, repeatedly beaten on the limbs with hammers and threatened that their fingers would be cut off.