The Gazprom concern has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Russia for the creation of mobile fire groups that will be engaged in "patrolling and protecting gas supply facilities." This was reported on Sunday, July 5, by the publication "Echo," which examined the documents of the Russian state energy company. The contract does not provide for full military service, but rather for being in a mobilization reserve. This allows participation in mobile fire groups to be combined with primary employment: during military training, the jobs of contracted employees are preserved. Those wishing to serve in the groups must undergo a medical examination, a "thorough selection," and two months of training. According to the terms of the contract, they are entitled to an average salary and additional payments from the Ministry of Defense: for being in the reserve, for participating in military training, and an allowance for continuous service in the reserve if a person has been listed there for more than three years. In addition, a monthly compensation of 200,000 rubles from the employer is paid for participation in the training, according to the documents. ## ## The Contract is Concluded for Three Years As noted by "Echo," those who sign the contract are not considered active military personnel. However, during training, they may be called upon "to ensure the protection of critically important facilities and other life support facilities," but "only within the territory of the region where the contract was signed." Furthermore, the documents state that the first contract is signed for three years, and subsequent contracts can be concluded for three years, five years, or a shorter term if the reservist reaches the age limit. The maximum age for privates and sergeants is 52 years, for junior officers - 57 years, and for senior officers - 62 years. ## ## Likely Connection Between Gazprom and PMC "Potok" and "Fakel" In February 2023, Ukrainian intelligence reported that Gazprom allegedly created its own private military company (PMC). This conclusion was drawn by Ukraine after Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin authorized the company to create a private security organization. However, according to the British newspaper The Financial Times, the recruitment of "volunteers" for participation in the war began in the company as early as August 2022. This refers to certain PMCs "Potok" and "Fakel." Judging by media publications and videos from the military themselves, these PMCs are actually subordinate to the structures of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. In April 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was then head of PMC Wagner, confirmed that the PMCs created in Gazprom allegedly participate in the war. In a half-hour report, he actively criticized the creators of other groups, accusing them of a lack of training, equipment, and professional personnel. The connection between PMC "Potok" and PMC "Fakel" with Gazprom was indirectly confirmed by other sources - this was mentioned by a Russian prisoner of war in a video published last April. The man introduced himself as Alexander Tkachenko from Orenburg. The Russian service of the BBC found his page on the social network VKontakte, where the company "Gazprom Dobycha Orenburg" was listed as his place of work. The publication also found an obituary for a soldier killed in the war, which indicated "detachment 'Potok' (Gazprom)" as the place of service.
