[GreyDynamics] Redut PMC: The Kremlin’s Private Army
Redut is a Russian Private Military Company (PMC) also known as Centre R, PMC Redut, and Redut Security. The organisation is part of the “anti-terror family,” a grouping of PMCs that protects Russian commercial interests and also advances Russian geopolitical goals. Nominally controlled by the foreign military intelligence agency of the Russian Federation, the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU), it acts as a proxy umbrella organisation that manages several different PMCs. Established in 2008, it has operated in a variety of fields and theatres, including Syria and, during the Russo-Georgia War of 2008, in Georgia. It is currently active in both Ukraine and Africa through its sub-units.
1.6 REDUT RE-ORGANISATION AND GROWTH (2024-)
As of December 2024, Redut reportedly has an estimated 25,000 mercenaries and other contractors. It has emerged as the main Russian PMC organisation, is very active in Africa and Syria, and has operated alongside other Russian PMCs on the continent, such as the BEAR Brigade.
The reported leader of Redut, Konstantin Mirzayants, is allegedly tied to the Russian MOD, its operations in Africa, and the creation of “Africa Corps,” which is also reportedly assuming Wagner’s operations on the continent.
2 ORGANISATION OF REDUT
As Redut is not a sole military group, much like Wagner, it operates as an umbrella organisation. This means that it encompasses and also delegates tasks to several different units that operate underneath it.
Additionally, an investigation by the Ukraine-based Skhemy project and the Russian media Sistema confirmed that Redut is less of a private military company than it is a GRU front. This involved the recruiting of fighters for Redut by the GRU, operating through a network of ‘shadow companies,’ non-existent military units and additionally, fictitious legal entities to legally distance Moscow from ‘special operations.’
| A useful table of organization can be seen at the link, even showing which units are partially and fully staffed. Following that comes brief descriptions of key units, weaponry, and so forth. |
5 CONCLUSION
Redut, also known as PMC Redut, is a Russian Private Military Company (PMC). Part of the “anti-terror family,” a grouping of PMCs that protect Russian commercial interests, it is currently active in Ukraine and also Africa and stands accused of war crimes against Ukrainian forces. Its sub-units have been seen in active combat all across the Eastern front of the Ukrainian War. Using a variety of equipment–such as small arms, artillery and drones–it is a highly lethal collection of privatised fighters used by both the Russian Government and the GRU to advance their aims in areas, and in ways, deemed unsuitable for regular forces.
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