From ‘Volunteers’ to Quasi-PMCs: Retracing the Footprints of Russian Irregulars in the Yugoslav Wars and Post-Soviet Conflicts By: Sergey Sukhankin (https://jamestown.org/analyst/sergey-sukhankin/) June 25, 2019 10:41 AM Age: 39 mins Introduction The collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), in 1991, was followed by a series of intense military conflicts that broke out along the Soviet periphery and across its former sphere of influence. The dire state of the Russian economy, domestic political turmoil and the necessity to uphold a liberal façade to its new Western backers prevented Moscow from becoming openly involved in these conflicts. However, a Russian footprint was still present thanks to the arrival of so- called “volunteers,” who poured into these emerging zones of instability. This period played an important role in the development of future Russian Private Military Companies (PMC) and the way the government would subsequently use them in other theaters. First, these Russian irregulars gained experience (not necessarily positive or state-sponsored) in regional conflicts stretching from Central Asia to the Balkans and became acquainted with the specificities of non-linear, asymmetric warfare under different geographic and climactic conditions. Second, their participation created an aura of “volunteerism” and justice-seeking that substantially increased Russia’s popularity abroad. Finally, this involvement of volunteer irregulars allowed Moscow to create zones of instability (so-called “frozen conflicts”) that it continues to use to this day for various geopolitical purposes. Among other aspects, this paper aims to: • Discuss the main operational theaters and composition of Russian irregular/mercenary forces in regional armed conflicts until 2013; • Trace the fighting tactics/techniques employed by Russian irregulars; • Discern the motivating factors driving Russian irregulars/mercenaries; • Identify the “volunteers’” recruitment techniques and command-and-control (C2) structures; • Mention and discuss the main groups/companies/organizations that formed the foundation for Russia’s current Private Military Companies; • Present the main factors that prevented nascent Russian PMCs from pursuing the trajectory followed by Western enterprises. (https://jamestown.org/) Search ..