Russian journalists dig up employment records showing that the ‘Wagner’ PMC employs 3,602 people

The “Wagner” private military company has at least 3,602 combatants on its payroll, according to data published on Wednesday by the Russian news website Republic. Journalists cannot confirm how many of these individuals are still actively working for the company, but at least one of the names in Wagner’s staff records belongs to a man from Arkhangelsk who was killed in Syria in September 2017: Evgeny Alikov — the 3,601st entry on the list.

How much does it cost to run such a large operation?

Republic estimates that the Wagner PMC’s operating costs were as high as 17.4 billion rubles ($307.5 million) over the past 2.5 years, judging by the mercenaries’ average monthly salaries (240,000 rubles, or $4,240), the cost of food, and the compensation paid to the families of anyone killed at work (5 million rubles — about $88,300 — for each combatant). 

Republic’s sources say Wagner has several “private investors.” Despite Wagner’s considerable losses in a U.S. airstrike on February 7, there are reportedly no plans to dissolve the company.