Prepare for war in Ukraine: in Belarus they create their own version of the Wagner Group, - the media

About it reports DW with reference to the Belarusian military, a representative of the united transition office of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on defense and national security Valery Sakhashchyk. As it is specified, Gardservice became the only security enterprise in Belarus, to which Alexander Lukashenko allowed his decree to have firearms. According to the Sahaschik, the number of employees there has increased significantly, which can mean preparation for participation in the war against Ukraine.

The company now has more than a thousand people. "The staff have increased at the expense of officers, ensign, sergeants and soldiers who served in the forces of special operations and special forces of power departments of Belarus," - explains the Belarusian oppositionist. According to Tikanovskaya representative, Gardservice fighters have been training for several months. Moreover, Belarusian training occurs simultaneously at different landfills.

Sugar suggests that Gardservice staff will be able to use in sabotage and reconnaissance groups and assault operations-as is the case with Wagner Groups now. Gardservice private security enterprise appeared in Belarus in June 2020. Former veterans of the security structures, the security service of Alexander Lukashenko, special forces, special units of the KGB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Border Committee were recruited to him.

The company was headed by a former special purpose unit, the safety director of Belgeopois LLC Yevgeny Chanov. The owner of Gardservice is called the head of the Afghan Memory of Alexander Metlu, who also works as a director of the Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex. On December 4, 2021, the security enterprise came under the sanctions of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Last summer, the Belarusian opposition media published information with reference to the anonymous employee of Gardservice, who arrived in the Minsk "Wagnerivtsi" to train the personnel of the enterprise. At that time, the Belarusian formation had about 500 people. At the same time, it was stated that Gardservice staff promised a business trip and salary of 10 thousand Belarusian rubles (about 3700 euros).

Valery Sakhashchych in early January this year confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly invested the Belarusian fighters "very serious amount" and is ready to create a local analogue of "Wagner Group". Valery Sakhashchyk is a Belarusian military, public figure and entrepreneur, former commander of the 38th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade in Brest.