The Russian Telegram channel 'Cheka-OGPU' has posted a detailed account of the recruitment by the Wagner Group of 200 prisoners from the Rostov region and their subsequent massacre by the Ukrainians in their first combat engagement. Translation follows:
[Posted on 13 September 2022]
A source told the Cheka-OGPU [Telegram channel] about the recruitment of prisoners for PMCs [Private Military Companies] in a high-security colony in one of the border regions.
"We were told about the visit of the so-called 'musicians' [i.e. Wagner] the day before. The [guard] shift on duty was not let out of the zone [prison complex], the head of the colony was in charge out of schedule.
The deputy director gathered all the duty guards and supervisors and announced a complete stop to the bans, promising a life without shakedowns and commissions in exchange.
There was no morning debriefing; everyone waited in the barracks until lunchtime for the arrival of the "management" officers. This was deliberately told to convicts and junior inspectors.
The PMC's helicopter landed outside the security facility, next to the colony, although I heard from colleagues that in other camps it happened that they landed directly on the parade ground or the stadium.
Outside the zone they did not communicate much with anyone, they ignored the courtesies of local officers, they did not even confer with anyone.
The only thing they said was to bring everyone, even the kicha (punishment cell), SUS (detachment where persistent violators of the regime serve their sentences) and BUR (single cell-type room), if there was one.
Apparently, the offenders were not taken out somewhere, so they set the accents from the doorstep. In contrast, they told us not to touch the "Cross" (medical unit).
Our officers did not know how to talk to them, they did not take their hands off their heads and saluted them as in the army. The Wagnerians entered the camp itself, led by Prigozhin. All of them were in camouflage with "iron" [medals].
Very showy, their chief [Prigozhin] had two Stars of the Hero [i.e. the Hero of the Russian Federation medal and probably either the equivalent DPR or LPR awards] on his chest. The zeks [convicts] were lined up in front of him. He spoke without fear, face to face.
He said something like, we are recruiting people to kill: murderers, brigands, we need everyone. He said we were like an organised [crime] group, you could call it that.
He chided us for having done his time and learned the life of a convict, but now, look at him, he's twice the hero. The guests promised freedom and money for the brave, and then they left in the same order.
To be honest, they did not convince everyone. But I heard them calling home [to their families]: "Galya, we'll buy a new car!", showing off in front of their friends: "I'd like to go to a disco like that!"
In the next eight days the headquarters received about 700 applications. That was a little more than half of the whole colony.
The procedure was as follows: new forms were drawn up for their personal files – not just excerpts from AKUS [database of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia], but also with an indication of their background, faith, connections (extended information, it was required to specify right down to the true "family members" in the colony) and other detailed operational information. The papers were sent to Moscow.
From there under strict control and under secrecy (all documents received and stored in a safe of the Special Department - special accounting department which is located in a civil building behind the zone) came "pardons" signed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief [i.e. Putin] for 200 people. These papers were not taken to the zone, but this is exactly the case.
Last week a military KAMAZ truck came to the colony before lights out and took these people away. It turns out that they are now officially free. As for the composition of those selected. Several people were taken from the SUS.
From one unit they took more than 50 people at once. Why? I don't know. Operatives, maybe they wrote something. All were mostly convicted for crimes against the person, arms trafficking or had a history of service in the armed forces.
Nothing has come in about the others, I think that's their reserve now.
-
[Posted on 13 October 2022]
A VChK-OGPU source described the fate of the first group of storm troopers from the recent batch of convicts recruited to the PMCs.
"Exactly a month ago, 200 people of special prisoners were taken out of the colony in the Rostov region, asking for pardons and for sending to the Special Military Operation zone.
The already ex-prisoners took a familiar route: they received equipment and went to a training camp. A squad of the "most hardy" was assembled from the masses and the group was sent off to carry out the mission.
In the end, the baptism of fire ended in the death of 28 men, while the two survivors were taken to hospital. The squad leader was hit in the head by shrapnel and miraculously survived.
Almost as soon as he regained consciousness, representatives of the PMC told him to get better and prepare for a "second round." Of those convicts who initially expressed a desire, but stayed in the colony as "reservists", almost all intend to refuse to go to the war zone.
Sources:
https://t.me/vchkogpu/32919
https://t.me/vchkogpu/33656
