PMC Wagner

Wikipedia:
 * The Wagner Group (Russian: Группа Вагнера, tr. Grupa Vagnera), also known as PMC Wagner, ChVK Wagner, or CHVK Vagner (Russian: ЧВК Вагнера, tr. ChVK Vagner, Russian: Частная Военная Компания Вагнера), is a Russian paramilitary organisation. Some have described it as a private military company (or a private military contracting agency), whose contractors have reportedly taken part in various conflicts, including operations in the Syrian Civil War on the side of the Syrian government as well as, from 2014 until 2015, in the War in Donbass in Ukraine aiding the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Others are of the opinion that ChVK Wagner is really a unit of the Russian Ministry of Defence in disguise, which is used by the Russian government in conflicts where deniability is called for.

Does "Wagner" exist?

 * Actor says he impersonated Russian mercenary in Syria for Sky News report - RT, August 18, 2016
 * On the Night Before Christmas Comes the Ghost of Russian Private Armies, by Scott Humor - The Saker, December 17, 2016
 * Anyone who propagates PMCs “Wagner” and “Turan” are enemies, no exception - Scott Humor, December 14, 2017
 * “Wagner” Private military company could be a code name for Israel’s black-op - Scott Humor, February 13, 2018

'They are not there'

 * Коротко по Дейр-эз-Зору -Cassad, 12 February, 2018
 * ''officially PMCs are not there. Until the law on PMCs is adopted, it will continue. According to the first version of the law, PMCs were to be subordinate to the RF Ministry of Defense, according to the second version - the FSB. In any case, in this scheme, one of the departments bore at least a formal responsibility and could be expected to take a more distinct position. And so. no one can even clearly explain which agency should be responsible for PMCs and their losses. After all, officially in Russia there are no PMCs. And de facto, there are.
 * From Khrustalik summary after interviewing wounded fighter:This was not a PMC in the general sense of the word. People signed a contract with the campaign "Euro policy" and went to civilian specialties, like locksmiths, surveyors, topographers and so on.