The European Union will introduce sanctions against PMC “Redut” because of the attempt on Zelensky

By the end of the year, the European Union plans to introduce sanctions against PMC “Redut” — an organization participating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This became known to the investigative projects “Sistema” and “Schemy”.

The draft sanctions list states that “Redut” is responsible for actions undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. In addition, the list indicates that Reduta fighters are involved in the attempted assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On December 1, “Sistema” and “Schemy” released an investigation in which it is confirmed that PMC “Redut” is actually a large-scale recruitment system under the control of the Russian military intelligence GRU. It includes at least twenty armed formations.

The text says that between 7,000 and 25,000 mercenaries who are not formally in the Russian military service are fighting in the system. Volunteers have more attractive contract conditions. They are allowed to leave the service, receive money in cash, they are promised larger payments than in the army for injuries and death.

“Sistema” established that the divisions in “Reduta” are headed by the deputy head of the GRU, Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev, former senator from the Tambov Region, Aleksey Kondratiev, and Colonel of the General Staff, Sergey Drozdov. Alekseev is already under US and EU sanctions, and Kondratiev and Drozdov are not yet included in these lists. All three officers declined to comment.

The authors of the investigation asked the Ministry of Defense of Russia for comments, but at the time of publication they did not receive a response. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov read the questions in the telegram and did not answer them. Deputy head of the GRU, Vladimir Alekseev, only put a “heart” on the message.