Russia’s Blackwater

Josh Kucera flags a Russia Today report on Oryol, a Russian defense contractor training ex-military officers for security work in Iraq: And to avoid such trouble is the chief responsibility of this group. These men are from the anti-terror group Oryol and, much like their infamous, American counterpart “Blackwater”, they provide private security for Russian ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Josh Kucera flags a Russia Today report on Oryol, a Russian defense contractor training ex-military officers for security work in Iraq:

Josh Kucera flags a Russia Today report on Oryol, a Russian defense contractor training ex-military officers for security work in Iraq:

And to avoid such trouble is the chief responsibility of this group. These men are from the anti-terror group Oryol and, much like their infamous, American counterpart “Blackwater”, they provide private security for Russian engineers and businessmen operating inside Iraq.

“I firmly believe Russians can do a lot in the Middle East, much more than our American and British colleagues. Local people treat us much better – both police and the opposition. We are there with a peaceful mission. We help rebuild power plants,” says Sergey Epishkin.

Thanks to the personnel cuts in recent military reforms, they don’t seem to be having much trouble hiring. 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

Tag: Russia

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