Wagner Russian mercenaries set up HQ in Rostov-on-Don – Ukrainian General Staff

DENYS KARLOVSKYY — SATURDAY, 5 MARCH 2022, 19:44

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, private Russian mercenary companies are recruiting special forces for combat operations in Ukraine, especially the infamous Wagner mercenary corps' headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.

Source: Information from the Ukrainian General Staff as of 18:00 on 5 March

Quote: "According to available information, the start of the military aggression against Ukraine has been accompanied by the start of activity among Russian private military contractors (PMC) to recruit personnel who have special forces military experience and corresponding training. In that vein, the PMC Wagner has established headquarters in Rostov-on-Don".

Details: The General Staff said that Russian occupying forces are continuing to launch missile attacks on civilian infrastructure that are killing civilians because of the collapse of the planned offensive campaign.

In particular, 20 residential buildings in Bila Tserkva, a city of over 200,000 residents in central Ukraine, were destroyed by Russian airstrikes.

In the city of Irpin, near Kyiv, Russian aircraft bombed a railway station and knocked out a train used to evacuate civilians.

On the outskirts of Brovary, a northeastern suburban town of Kyiv, near the village of Peremoha, Ukrainian armed forces conducted aerial strikes on the 15th separate Motorized Infantry Brigade from Russia's Central Military District. Losses among the Russian forces are being determined.

Ukrainian units also liquidated Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky, commander of the 247th Guards Assault Regiment from Russia's Southern Military District.

Since the morning of 5 March, Ukrainian defenders have managed to destroy two Russian aggressor planes, captured three pilots and shot down five enemy helicopters and one drone.

Background: 

• Investigative journalists from Bellingcat have information that Russian occupying forces have exhausted their inventory and supplies, and a "logistical nightmare" awaits them in the future.
• The journalists stated that, in the coming days, Russian leaders are planning to deploy around one thousand mercenaries to reenforce units that have suffered losses during combat with Ukrainian defenders.
• On the morning of 5 March, the Ukrainian army leaders stated that the Ukrainian army is holding its defence lines and is counter-attacking against Russian occupying forces in some areas.
• Russian forces are continuing to conduct violent airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv.
• Forbes estimated that the Russian equipment destroyed by the Ukrainian army is worth approximately $3 billion.