mo4ch:>Private security firms operating in Syria not linked to Russian state – Putin | Mo4ch News

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is aware of private security firms operating in Syria, but they don’t work with the Russian military and aren’t considered combatants.During his annual Direct Line Q&A session on Thursday, Putin was asked about the possibility of granting ‘combatant’ status to the employees of private security companies, who were allegedly killed in Syria.Earlier in June, unconfirmed media reports claimed that one such firm, allegedly connected to Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, had suffered casualties in the country.“As for private companies, including private security companies… they are really present there. But it’s not the Russian state and they aren’t participants in the warfare.”Also on rt.comWe won’t sell out our allies or principles to strike Syria deal with US, says PutinThe employees of such firms fulfil tasks related to “oil production and exploration of deposits” in Syria, the president said, acknowledging that they still risk their live…