\u201cCome to Crimea, Simferopol. We provide uniform and training. Travel expenses will be reimbursed upon tickets provided\u201d. \u201cBagira\u201d was named as the person answering calls to the phone number registered in Moscow and region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Russian central TV channels started covering these first voluntary units when they appeared on the training ground in Crimea and before their dispatch to the frontline. Yevgenii Rybin, administrator of social media of \u201cBears\u201d, has been the main driver of Russian media focus on \u201cBears\u201d. For 18 years, he has worked as the reporter at Russian propagandist TV channel \u201cTV Center\u201d. He used his media connections to promote \u201cBears\u201d and its recruitement campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n Then, newly created \u201cvoluntary battalion\u201d quickly gained support of the senior management of the Russian Ministry of Defense and \u201cthe Head of Crimea\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the end of March 2023, instructors of \u201cBears\u201d initiated training of so-called \u201cvolunteers of Crimea\u201d. \u201cHead of Crimea\u201d Sergii Aksyonov visited the training ground and tested bulletproof vests supplied by the Russian occupation authorities of Crimea to <\/span>so-called Crimean volunteers<\/span><\/a>. As we revealed earlier, their majority are mercenaries from Russia and not Crimean residents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Their training has been conducted on the training ground near military town in Perevalne village, not far from Simferopol. Before the Russian occupation, the ground has been used by troops of seashore defense of the Ukrainian Navy. Since 2014, it has been occupied by the 126<\/span>th<\/span> seashore defense brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Colonel Vladyslav Seleznyov, military expert and former head of the media center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Crimea, tells that \u201cBears\u201d have been trained on the part of the training ground, close to Perevalne village.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vladyslav Seleznyov, military expert. Photo: Facebook<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThere is wonderful base there. It has been fully equipped before the Russian annexation of Cromea. It allows training machine gunners, snipers etc. Its infrastructure is convenient as it is close to the base of the 126<\/span>th<\/span> brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and necessary communications. The Ukrainian Army invested a lot of resources to renew the base after the collapse of the Soviet Union\u201d, as recalls Seleznyov.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As he says, training ground near Perevalne is immense and consists of three training grounds for different training tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are base near Zarichne village, the base near Perevalne village and the base and training ground on Dolgorukivska mountain range (Subotkan range). Photos of training demonstrate the lower part of the latter ground. The training of artillery and mortarmen and battalion level training can be conducted on the upper part of the ground\u201d, as says Vladyslav Seleznyov.<\/span><\/p>\n On the 1<\/span>st<\/span> of April, Sergii Aksyonov attended the training of 400 \u201chis volunteers\u201d for the second time. His visit revealed the name and photo of the commander of battalion \u201cBears\u201d with call sign \u201cJedi\u201d, wearing very strange clothes for the officer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sergii Aksyonov and Viktor Yermolaev-\u201cJedi\u201d at the training ground in Perevalne village, temporarily occupied Crimea, March 2023. Photo: social media\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n After Aksyonov\u2019s visit, the supply of battalion has significantly improved. On the 4<\/span>th<\/span> of April, \u201cBears received a lot of ammunitions and secret new weapons from \u201climited series\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Next day Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov attended the training ground near Perevalne village. It has been reported that he has been satisfied and promised any support to \u201cBears\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As it is known, Yevkurov has supervised the removal of PMC \u201cWagner\u201d from Africa and its replacement with mercenaries from PMC \u201cRedut\u201d, acting under the umbrella of GRU.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yunus-Bek Yuvkurov at the training of battalion \u201cBears\u201d near Perevalne village, April 2023. Photo: social media\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n In less than two months, on May 30, 2023, \u201cJedy\u201d reported that his \u201cvolunteer battalion\u201d has been turned \u201cthe 81<\/span>st<\/span> special purpose brigade\u201d. He did not disclose its affiliation with any Russian Army. We assume that \u201cBears\u201d are subordinated to quazi-private military company \u201cRedut\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In accordance with <\/span>investigation of Radio Liberty and project \u201cIdel.Realii\u201d<\/span><\/a>, volunteer units, created under umbrella of GRU, have been refistered as military unit # 35\u00a0555 in Aksay, the satellite of the Russian city of Rostov-na-Donu (Sadovaya street, 22). PMC \u201cRedut\u201d has been among them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, the evidence is scarce and nine years old. First, it is <\/span>publication in Wikimapia<\/span><\/a>, indicating coordinates of military unit # 35\u00a0555. But those coordinates do not coincide with address in Aksay and lead to another <\/span>military unit # 01\u00a0957<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In November 2015, Ukrainian media Censor.Net <\/span>published<\/span><\/a> data of the Ukrainian intelligence services about structure and location of the Russian occupation troops in Donbas, Crimea and Rostov oblast of the Russian Federation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This publication mentions the 78<\/span>th<\/span> intelligence center of GRU with familiar number of military unit and address in Aksay. It indicates that the center acts under cover of the 175<\/span>th<\/span> brigade of the Russian Southern Military District. The number is 01\u00a0957, address \u2013 Sadovaya street, 22.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Letters of commanders of \u201cBears\u201d to heads of Russian regions and organizations of war veterans confirm that \u201cBears\u201d belong to the intelligence center of GRU and its secret military unit 35\u00a0555. Letters ask for the assistance with equipment and medicines.<\/span><\/p>\n The stamp of \u201cSeparate special purpose battalion \u201cBears\u201d, indicating military unit # 35\u00a0555 of GRU, on the letter asking for assistance. Photo: social media\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n For example, let us look at the letter to the Deputy Head of the Association of War Veterans of Perm krai. Its authors ask for the humanitarian aid to separate special purpose battalion \u201cBears\u201d. The letter indicates that \u201cBears\u201d belong to military unit # 35\u00a0555 in Perevalne village. The same number is seen on the stamp of the battalion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ukrainian military expert <\/span>Kostyantyn Mashovets<\/b> has mentioned the 81<\/span>st<\/span> brigade \u201cBears\u201d in his regular overviews since October 2023. He calls this unit \u201c<\/span>Crimean office of PMC \u201cRedut<\/span><\/a>\u201d. <\/span>Journalist investigation of Radio Liberty and \u201cSchemes\u201d<\/span><\/a> project also includes \u201cBears\u201d into \u201cRedut\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Valeria Yegoshyna<\/b><\/a>, the author of investigation and journalist of \u201cSchemes\u201d, says that \u201cRedut\u201d is not private military company; it is a network of mercenaries, including over 20 units. That is to say, \u201cRedut\u201d is so-called umbrella company, without the single command and status of legal entity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Valeria Yegoshyna, journalist of \u201cSchemes\u201d project (Radio Liberty), author of investigation about PMC \u201cRedut\u201d. Photo: investigator.org.ua<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWe found out that there is no single person, like Prigozhyn, behind various commanders of this organization because \u201cRedut\u201d does not have concise organizational structure and legal entity. It is a system of recruitment of Russians for the war against Ukraine\u201d, as says Valeria Yegoshyna.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Journalists of \u201cSchemes\u201d project estimated that there were around 25 thousand mercenaries, calling themselves \u201cvolunteers\u201d, under umbrella of \u201cRedut\u201d. \u201cBears\u201d has not associated itself with PMC \u201cRedut\u201d by the time of investigation. Structural scheme of \u201cRedut\u201d indicates \u201cBears\u201d as separate unit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, as Valeria Yegoshyna tells, found documents confirm the connection between \u201cBears\u201d and \u201cRedut\u201d: \u201cWe collected all documents we could about units within \u201cRedut\u201d, including documents about \u201cBears\u201d. We were able to receive copy of its stamp with military unit # 35\u00a0555 indicated on it. We link this unit to \u201cVeterans\u201d, another unit of \u201cRedut\u201d. \u201cVeterans\u201d lead us to the 78<\/span>th<\/span> intellifence center of GRU under Russian General Staff\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Though commander of \u201cBears\u201d Yermolaev-\u201cJedi\u201d calls it \u201cbrigade\u201d, number of mercenaries within \u201cBears\u201d has not been confirmed. He stated in the chat of telegram channel that there were over one thousand of \u201cBears\u201d and they formed a \u201cbrigade\u201d. He also proudly mentioned that his \u201cbrigade\u201d had its own artillery, armored vehicles, aviation and even fleet!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, video in social media demonstrated only one battalion with self-name \u201cPraga\u201d. It includes 5 companies with different number of soldiers. After leakage of information about their poor supply with ammunitions and food, all companies of \u201cBears\u201d posted their videos with rebuttal. These videos <\/span>show<\/span><\/a> insufficient number of soldiers. <\/span><\/p>\n The first intelligence assault battalion \u201cPraga\u201d of the 81<\/span><\/i>st<\/span><\/i> special purpose brigade \u201cBears\u201d, 2023. Photo: social media<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Military expert <\/span>Kostyantyn Mashovets<\/b> identified \u201cBears\u201d at the frontline near Oleshki. On October 23, 2023, he <\/span>wrote in his regular overview<\/span><\/a>: \u201cIt is likely that the enemy forms tactical reserve group near Oleshki to counteract raids of the Ukrainian Armed Forces across Dnipro between Oleshki and Nova Kakhovka. The enemy concentrated to the east of Oleshki during last three days the following troops: units of the 95<\/span>th<\/span> motorised rifle regiment and not less than a battalion of PMC \u201c81<\/span>st<\/span> special purpose brigade \u201cBears (it is so-called Crimean office of PMC \u201cRedut\u201d. <\/span>Though they call themselves a \u201cbrigade\u201d, their size is around 1,5 battalion<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n Thus, there is no doubt that \u201cBears\u201d belongs to umbrella PMC \u201cRedut\u201d, controlled by GRU.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us now look at its key persons and plans of the Russian Ministry of Defense to use \u201cBears\u201d in Africa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Commanders, recruiters and PR people\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n 43 years old <\/span>Yermolaev Vitalii Nikolayevich<\/b> is the commander of brigade with call sign \u201cJedi\u201d. His reputation is surrounded by public scandals in Russia. In Saint Petersburg, he is known as soldier of fortune, fraudster and biker \u201cYeryoma Piterskii\u201d, with collection of expensive cars and motorcycles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCommander of brigade \u201cJedi\u201d \u2013 Yeryoma Piterskii \u2013 Vitalii Yermolayev. Photo: motobratan.ru<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Before the war against Ukraine, Yermolayev has served in the airborne troops and participated in conflicts in Syria and Chechnya. He guarded golden mines and even extracted the gold in Africa. He has stolen over one billion Rubles from \u201cGazprom\u201d through his father\u2019s company and was involved into public shooting with policemen in the center of Saint Petersburg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yermolayev has been detained by police several times but never indicted. Policemen whom he shot <\/span>asked<\/span><\/a> the court to close the case because he apologized. It seems that \u201cYeryoma\u201d enjoys strong informal support of Russian intelligence services. It is also obvious that he has beneficial \u201cconnections\u201d among senior managers of \u201cGazprom\u201d because the scandal over \u201cdisappearance\u201d of 125 km long gas pipe has not lead to any official investigations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCommander of brigade \u201cJedi\u201d \u2013 Yeryoma Piterskii \u2013 Vitalii Yermolayev in Syria. Photo: motobratan.ru<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Yermolayev-\u201cJedi\u201d has participated in the war against Ukraine almost since the beginning of the Russian full scale invasion. We found an interesting photo signed \u201cJedi\u201d in internal chat of telegram channel of \u201cBears\u201d. Yermolayev stands in front of destroyed bridge near the Ukrainian city of Gorokhovatka in Kharkiv region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We should recall that Russian troops, smashed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in September 2022, have included so-called Russian 3<\/span>rd<\/span> Army Corps, <\/span>formed<\/span><\/a> from Russian regional \u201cvolunteer battalions\u201d. The imprint of bear paw in circle has been the <\/span>sign<\/span><\/a> of the Corps. It reminds one of the first versions of logo of \u201cBears\u201d which would appear later, in half a year. <\/span><\/p>\n Commander of brigade \u201cJedi\u201d in front of destroyed bridge in Gorokhovatka. Photo: telegram channel of the 81<\/span><\/i>st<\/span><\/i> brigade \u201cBears\u201d, 2023\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Above mentioned letter to the Association of war veterans in Perm krai indicates the surname and initials of the chief of staff of the special purpose battalion \u201cBears\u201d \u2013 Gashin A.A. Internal chat of \u201cBears\u201d also mentions the call sign of the second after \u201cJedi\u201d person in battalion \u2013 \u201cMorok\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n The Center of Journalist Investigations identified the chief of staff of \u201cBears\u201d. It is <\/span>Gashin Andrei Andreyevich<\/b> from Russian city of Volzhskii in Volgograd region. Before the Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine, Gashin has been an individual entrepreneur, focused on additional education of children and consultations in the sphere of security. At the end of September 2022, he stopped his business and went to kill Ukrainians. His wife with name \u201c<\/span>Helen<\/span><\/a>\u201d is a photographer. Their three children study in the Russian military school. We could not find the photo of Gashin-\u201cMorok\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n 40 years old<\/span> Rybin Yevgenii Yevgenjevich<\/b> is the speaker and administrator of social media of \u201cBears\u201d. His call sign is \u201cKnyaz\u201d (\u201cKing\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n He has worked as reporter of Russian TV channel \u201cTV Center\u201d for almost 20 years. He ran for Moscow and Russian State Duma from the Liberal Democratic Party but failed. In 2022, Rybin has visited several times the frontline in Donbas. In March 2023, Rybin-\u201cKnyaz\u201d launched telegram channel of \u201cBears\u201d and actively promoted the unit in mass media, in order to get an assistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yevgenii Rybin, the speaker and combatant of \u201cbrigade of \u201cBears\u201d with journalists of \u201cTV Center\u201d, 2023, Crimea. Photo: social media\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Rybin is not an ordinary speaker of \u201cBears\u201d. The only legal entity, related to \u201cBears\u201d, has been registered by Rybin. It is <\/span>charitable fund of war veterans \u201cBear\u201d<\/span><\/a> registered in Moscow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Is Rybin-\u201cKnyaz\u201d combatant or non-combatant? As the speaker of fund \u201cBear\u201d, he could be treated as non-combatant, i.e. as the person not fighting, just helping one side of the armed conflict.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We found the List of personnel of the 3<\/span>rd<\/span> company of \u201cBears\u201d to be encouraged in the internal chat of \u201cBears\u201d. Number five of the List says: \u201cMerkel plus team of Naiv and Knyaz. They should be encouraged and promoted as they organized protection by fire and suppressed fire points of the enemy\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n The Rybin\u2019s account in Facebook demonstrates his photo with automatic rifle during his first \u201cfield trip somewhere to Svatovo\u201d. Thus, Rybin has been directly involved into the fighting and should be treated as \u201ccombatant\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Yevgenii Rybin, participant of the Russian invasion in Eastern Ukraine, December 2022. Photo: Facebook \u0415\u0432\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0420\u044b\u0431\u0438\u043d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n representative of \u201cBears\u201d called <\/span>Putin Vyacheslav Viktorovich<\/b>, call sign \u201c<\/span>Temnitsa<\/b>\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vyacheslav Putin served in the airborne troops. He is the <\/span>head<\/span><\/a> of the Associatin of veterans of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Russian city of Chusove and the judge of international class of oriental martial arts. Since the beginning of the Russian full scale invasion, he has fought against Ukraine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We found the video titling him as a participant of the \u201cspecial military operation\u201d in Kharkiv region and a <\/span>veteran of special unit of GRU<\/span><\/a>. He complained about poor supply of medicaments: \u201cThere are not medicaments. When I prepared myself for the war, I bought them for 10-15 thousand Rubles. We should have trained doctors. Now we have a few of them\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/investigator.org.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1486077_369898883146841_476850544_o-1024x683.jpg\")
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