According to media reports, the Slavonic Corps was registered in Hong Kong by two employees of the private security company Moran Security Group, Russian nationals Vadim Rudolfovich Gusev (
Russian: Вадим Рудольфович Гусев), who was the deputy director, and Yevgeniy Sidorov (
Russian: Евгений Сидоров).[8][a][b] Vadim Gusev held all 10,000 shares of the Hong Kong-based company.[15]
In the spring of 2013, job ads by a Hong Kong-based company emerged on various Russian military related websites. The ads promised 5,000
USD per month for guard duties protecting Syrian energy facilities during the Syrian civil war. The ads attracted the attention of former members of
OMON,
SOBR,
VDV and
Spetsnaz; many of them had previous military experience in the
Tajikistani Civil War as well as the
Second Chechen War.[20][23][24]
The contractors were provided with outdated equipment which raised concerns among the participants. They soon realized that the
FSB and the Syrian government had no involvement with the operation. Those wishing to return to Russia were left with no choice but to earn their ticket back through direct participation in the Syrian civil war. The new goal of the Slavonic Corps was described as guarding the
oil fields of Deir ez-Zor.[28] Instead of the promised
T-72s, the contractors were provided with buses covered in metal plates. En route to Deir ez-Zor, the column encountered a
Syrian air forcehelicopter which collided with a transmission line and crashed into the caravan, injuring one of the contractors.[29]
On 18 October, the column received orders to reinforce Syrian army forces in the city of
Al-Sukhnah. Three hours into its journey, the column came under attack. With the aid of a Syrian army
self-propelled gun and air support from a single fighter jet, the contractors assumed a defensive position.
Jaysh al-Islam fighters numbering from two to six thousand men (according to the Russians) attempted a
pincer movement. Vastly outnumbered, the contractors retreated to their vehicles as a desert storm covered the battlefield.[15] In the aftermath of the battle, six Slavonic Corps members were wounded.[29] Having failed to achieve their objectives, the group returned to Russia.
Upon arriving at
Vnukovo International Airport, the participants were detained by the
FSB on suspicion of acting as mercenaries, which is punishable under Article 359 of the
Russian criminal law.[6][27] Despite the fact that the company was registered in Hong Kong, the owners, Gusev and Sidorov, were also charged, sent to
Lefortovo Prison, and convicted in October 2014.[8][20]
^From the Moran Security Group (MSG) official website: "we are an international group of companies providing a range of services in the field of security, consulting, transportation and medical support." The company specializes in a full range of ship escort services - from logistics to security. In general, the company has been engaged in the safety of tankers beginning in 2001, according to a Fontaka article, and, as early as 2006, according to Moran Security Group, local security personnel were successfully trained to provide VIP support services. Since 2010, it has been actively engaged in operations protecting merchant ships from pirate attacks in the
Red Sea,
Gulf of Aden,
Somalia and the
Indian Ocean. Moran Security Group also maintains a presence in
Nigeria and the
Gulf of Guinea. Since 2012, a division of the Moran Security Group owns the Myre Seadiver which was a former a former Norwegian offshore rescue vessel that was converted into a vessel for security tasks and was employed by
Sovcomflot (
Russian: «Совкомфлот»), the United Cargo Fleet (
Russian: Объединённый грузовой флот) and other companies.[9][10][11][12] As of 2015, the MSG owned fleet included four vessels: Ratibor (ESU2529), Maagen (E5U2139), Anchor 1 (E5U2491) and Deo Juvante (E5U2630).[13][14] Although MSG is registered in Belize,[15] the British Virgin Islands firm Neova Holdings Ltd holds a 50% stake in MSG.[15][16] As of autumn 2013, Boris Georgievich Chikin (
Russian: Борис Георгиевич Чикин), who is a weapons specialist,[17] and Vyacheslav Vasilyevich Kalashnikov (
Russian: Вячеслав Васильевич Калашников), who is the MSG president, a colonel in the
FSB reserve and, later, an adviser to Russian Senator
Alexander Torshin while the Slavonic Corps existed,[7][18] are co-owners of Moran Security Group which is headquartered at Potapovsky Lane, house 5, in Moscow.[4][5][19][20] Allegedly,
Bashar al-Assad is a client of MSG.[13][21][22]
^The address for the Slavonic Corps in
Saint Petersburg was at 5 Alexander Blok Street, in the Baltic Shooting Center (
Russian: «Балтийский стрелковый центр») which also was headed by Boris Chikin.[4][5]
^The base between Latakia and Tartus was at a
hippodrome which was occupied by
Syrian reservists. Staying in a stable, the Slavonic Corps, by October 2013, had 267 people divided into two companies: one company was staffed by
Cossacks from the
Kuban and the other by people from all over Russia including 10 to 12 people from St. Petersburg. The Slavonic Corps commanders said that the Slavonic Corps would have an increase of 2,000 in Syria. Later, in 2015, the base had Russians supporting the
Syrian Army 4th Corps.[25]
^Allegedly, a Syrian oligarch with Assad's consent requested the Slavonic Corps.[15]
^On 18 October 2013, the Slavonic Corps was alerted from
Homs and was on the more than 230 kilometres (140 mi) trek to the neighboring city of
Al-Sukhnah when the attack occurred.[7]
^Located at the Molkino base are the 1st Guards Missile Brigade (military unit 31853), the 10th separate special forces brigade of the GRU of the Ministry of Defense (military unit 51532), as well as the 243rd combined arms training ground (military unit 55485).[17]
^Allegedly,
Dmitry Utkin (aka "Wagner") was associated with the Slavonic Corps and, later, the
Yevgeny Prigozhin associated
Wagner Group (aka the "orchestra") which trained near the
Don federal highwayM 4 at the Molkino (
Russian: Молькино) GRU base base (Goryacheklyuchevsky garrison), after its more than 50 million rubles modernization by JSC Garrison (
Russian: АО «Гарнизон») during early 2015 to provide a training ground for troops using night vision devices,[f] at
Molkin (
Russian: Молькин) near
Goryachy Klyuch which is in the
Goryacheklyuchevsky district (
Russian: Горячеключевский район) (
Belorechensky District) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from
Krasnodar.[16][17][35][36] Allegedly, Utkin, an
anti-Semitic, recruited numerous members of the Slavonic Corps, especially
paratroopers, former special forces (
OMON,
SOBR,
Spetsnaz, etc.) and
marines, to support Russia's interests, in 2014, during the Crimea referendum and war in Donbas often as "cleaners" («чистильщиков») in
Luhansk,[16] and, in 2015, Syria before the start of air attacks by Russian forces.[7][17][37][38][39][40]
^
abcКоротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (30 October 2013).
"Ландскнехтов в Сирию послал Петербург" [Landsknechtov sent St. Petersburg to Syria]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abcКоротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (30 October 2013).
"Ландскнехтов в Сирию послал Петербург" [Landsknechtov sent St. Petersburg to Syria]. Fontaka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abХазов-Кассиа, Сергей (Khazov-Kassia, Sergey) (7 March 2018).
"Проект "Мясорубка". Рассказывают три командира "ЧВК Вагнера"" [The "Meat Grinder" project. Three commanders of the Wagner PMC tell]. Radio Liberty (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^"Moran Security Group: About Us". «Moran Security Group» website (moran-group.org). 25 September 2023. Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (25 February 2013).
"Заложники Нигерии ждут коммандос от президента" [Hostages of Nigeria are waiting for commandos from the president]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (20 February 2013).
"Российские моряки могут остаться в Нигерии навсегда" [Russian sailors can stay in Nigeria forever]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (20 January 2013).
"Нигерийский военный флот не любит конкурентов" [The Nigerian navy does not like competitors]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abcdКоротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (14 November 2013).
"Последний бой «Славянского корпуса»" [Last battle of the Slavic Corps]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2014.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (16 October 2015).
"«Славянский корпус» возвращается в Сирию" ["Slavic Corps" returns to Syria]. Fontaka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^"Славянский Корпус: О нас" [Slavonic Corps: About Us]. website (slavcorps.org) (in Russian). 22 October 2013. Archived from
the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (14 November 2013).
"Последний бой «Славянского корпуса»" [The last battle of the "Slavic Corps"]. fontanka.ru (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 14 November 2013.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Поликарпов, М. А. (Polikarpov, M. A.) (7 January 2023).
"РУССКИЕ ДОБРОВОЛЬЦЫ В ЮГОСЛАВИИ В 1992–1995 ГГ.: ИСТОРИЯ И ПОТЕРИ" [RUSSIAN VOLUNTEERS IN YUGOSLAVIA IN 1992–1995: HISTORY AND LOSSES]. Информационное агентство REX (ИА REX) (iarex.ru) (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Райкович, Драган (Rajković, Dragan) (19 August 2004).
"Кто они" [Who are they:]. «Српска.Ру» (srpska.ru) (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
According to media reports, the Slavonic Corps was registered in Hong Kong by two employees of the private security company Moran Security Group, Russian nationals Vadim Rudolfovich Gusev (
Russian: Вадим Рудольфович Гусев), who was the deputy director, and Yevgeniy Sidorov (
Russian: Евгений Сидоров).[8][a][b] Vadim Gusev held all 10,000 shares of the Hong Kong-based company.[15]
In the spring of 2013, job ads by a Hong Kong-based company emerged on various Russian military related websites. The ads promised 5,000
USD per month for guard duties protecting Syrian energy facilities during the Syrian civil war. The ads attracted the attention of former members of
OMON,
SOBR,
VDV and
Spetsnaz; many of them had previous military experience in the
Tajikistani Civil War as well as the
Second Chechen War.[20][23][24]
The contractors were provided with outdated equipment which raised concerns among the participants. They soon realized that the
FSB and the Syrian government had no involvement with the operation. Those wishing to return to Russia were left with no choice but to earn their ticket back through direct participation in the Syrian civil war. The new goal of the Slavonic Corps was described as guarding the
oil fields of Deir ez-Zor.[28] Instead of the promised
T-72s, the contractors were provided with buses covered in metal plates. En route to Deir ez-Zor, the column encountered a
Syrian air forcehelicopter which collided with a transmission line and crashed into the caravan, injuring one of the contractors.[29]
On 18 October, the column received orders to reinforce Syrian army forces in the city of
Al-Sukhnah. Three hours into its journey, the column came under attack. With the aid of a Syrian army
self-propelled gun and air support from a single fighter jet, the contractors assumed a defensive position.
Jaysh al-Islam fighters numbering from two to six thousand men (according to the Russians) attempted a
pincer movement. Vastly outnumbered, the contractors retreated to their vehicles as a desert storm covered the battlefield.[15] In the aftermath of the battle, six Slavonic Corps members were wounded.[29] Having failed to achieve their objectives, the group returned to Russia.
Upon arriving at
Vnukovo International Airport, the participants were detained by the
FSB on suspicion of acting as mercenaries, which is punishable under Article 359 of the
Russian criminal law.[6][27] Despite the fact that the company was registered in Hong Kong, the owners, Gusev and Sidorov, were also charged, sent to
Lefortovo Prison, and convicted in October 2014.[8][20]
^From the Moran Security Group (MSG) official website: "we are an international group of companies providing a range of services in the field of security, consulting, transportation and medical support." The company specializes in a full range of ship escort services - from logistics to security. In general, the company has been engaged in the safety of tankers beginning in 2001, according to a Fontaka article, and, as early as 2006, according to Moran Security Group, local security personnel were successfully trained to provide VIP support services. Since 2010, it has been actively engaged in operations protecting merchant ships from pirate attacks in the
Red Sea,
Gulf of Aden,
Somalia and the
Indian Ocean. Moran Security Group also maintains a presence in
Nigeria and the
Gulf of Guinea. Since 2012, a division of the Moran Security Group owns the Myre Seadiver which was a former a former Norwegian offshore rescue vessel that was converted into a vessel for security tasks and was employed by
Sovcomflot (
Russian: «Совкомфлот»), the United Cargo Fleet (
Russian: Объединённый грузовой флот) and other companies.[9][10][11][12] As of 2015, the MSG owned fleet included four vessels: Ratibor (ESU2529), Maagen (E5U2139), Anchor 1 (E5U2491) and Deo Juvante (E5U2630).[13][14] Although MSG is registered in Belize,[15] the British Virgin Islands firm Neova Holdings Ltd holds a 50% stake in MSG.[15][16] As of autumn 2013, Boris Georgievich Chikin (
Russian: Борис Георгиевич Чикин), who is a weapons specialist,[17] and Vyacheslav Vasilyevich Kalashnikov (
Russian: Вячеслав Васильевич Калашников), who is the MSG president, a colonel in the
FSB reserve and, later, an adviser to Russian Senator
Alexander Torshin while the Slavonic Corps existed,[7][18] are co-owners of Moran Security Group which is headquartered at Potapovsky Lane, house 5, in Moscow.[4][5][19][20] Allegedly,
Bashar al-Assad is a client of MSG.[13][21][22]
^The address for the Slavonic Corps in
Saint Petersburg was at 5 Alexander Blok Street, in the Baltic Shooting Center (
Russian: «Балтийский стрелковый центр») which also was headed by Boris Chikin.[4][5]
^The base between Latakia and Tartus was at a
hippodrome which was occupied by
Syrian reservists. Staying in a stable, the Slavonic Corps, by October 2013, had 267 people divided into two companies: one company was staffed by
Cossacks from the
Kuban and the other by people from all over Russia including 10 to 12 people from St. Petersburg. The Slavonic Corps commanders said that the Slavonic Corps would have an increase of 2,000 in Syria. Later, in 2015, the base had Russians supporting the
Syrian Army 4th Corps.[25]
^Allegedly, a Syrian oligarch with Assad's consent requested the Slavonic Corps.[15]
^On 18 October 2013, the Slavonic Corps was alerted from
Homs and was on the more than 230 kilometres (140 mi) trek to the neighboring city of
Al-Sukhnah when the attack occurred.[7]
^Located at the Molkino base are the 1st Guards Missile Brigade (military unit 31853), the 10th separate special forces brigade of the GRU of the Ministry of Defense (military unit 51532), as well as the 243rd combined arms training ground (military unit 55485).[17]
^Allegedly,
Dmitry Utkin (aka "Wagner") was associated with the Slavonic Corps and, later, the
Yevgeny Prigozhin associated
Wagner Group (aka the "orchestra") which trained near the
Don federal highwayM 4 at the Molkino (
Russian: Молькино) GRU base base (Goryacheklyuchevsky garrison), after its more than 50 million rubles modernization by JSC Garrison (
Russian: АО «Гарнизон») during early 2015 to provide a training ground for troops using night vision devices,[f] at
Molkin (
Russian: Молькин) near
Goryachy Klyuch which is in the
Goryacheklyuchevsky district (
Russian: Горячеключевский район) (
Belorechensky District) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from
Krasnodar.[16][17][35][36] Allegedly, Utkin, an
anti-Semitic, recruited numerous members of the Slavonic Corps, especially
paratroopers, former special forces (
OMON,
SOBR,
Spetsnaz, etc.) and
marines, to support Russia's interests, in 2014, during the Crimea referendum and war in Donbas often as "cleaners" («чистильщиков») in
Luhansk,[16] and, in 2015, Syria before the start of air attacks by Russian forces.[7][17][37][38][39][40]
^
abcКоротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (30 October 2013).
"Ландскнехтов в Сирию послал Петербург" [Landsknechtov sent St. Petersburg to Syria]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abcКоротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (30 October 2013).
"Ландскнехтов в Сирию послал Петербург" [Landsknechtov sent St. Petersburg to Syria]. Fontaka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abХазов-Кассиа, Сергей (Khazov-Kassia, Sergey) (7 March 2018).
"Проект "Мясорубка". Рассказывают три командира "ЧВК Вагнера"" [The "Meat Grinder" project. Three commanders of the Wagner PMC tell]. Radio Liberty (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^"Moran Security Group: About Us". «Moran Security Group» website (moran-group.org). 25 September 2023. Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (25 February 2013).
"Заложники Нигерии ждут коммандос от президента" [Hostages of Nigeria are waiting for commandos from the president]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (20 February 2013).
"Российские моряки могут остаться в Нигерии навсегда" [Russian sailors can stay in Nigeria forever]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (20 January 2013).
"Нигерийский военный флот не любит конкурентов" [The Nigerian navy does not like competitors]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^
abcdКоротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (14 November 2013).
"Последний бой «Славянского корпуса»" [Last battle of the Slavic Corps]. Fontanka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2014.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (16 October 2015).
"«Славянский корпус» возвращается в Сирию" ["Slavic Corps" returns to Syria]. Fontaka (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^"Славянский Корпус: О нас" [Slavonic Corps: About Us]. website (slavcorps.org) (in Russian). 22 October 2013. Archived from
the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
^Коротков, Денис (Korotkov, Denis) (14 November 2013).
"Последний бой «Славянского корпуса»" [The last battle of the "Slavic Corps"]. fontanka.ru (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 14 November 2013.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Поликарпов, М. А. (Polikarpov, M. A.) (7 January 2023).
"РУССКИЕ ДОБРОВОЛЬЦЫ В ЮГОСЛАВИИ В 1992–1995 ГГ.: ИСТОРИЯ И ПОТЕРИ" [RUSSIAN VOLUNTEERS IN YUGOSLAVIA IN 1992–1995: HISTORY AND LOSSES]. Информационное агентство REX (ИА REX) (iarex.ru) (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
^Райкович, Драган (Rajković, Dragan) (19 August 2004).
"Кто они" [Who are they:]. «Српска.Ру» (srpska.ru) (in Russian). Archived from
the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2023.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)