Russian Defense Ministry officers pressuring “balkers” in Luhansk Region and recruiting them to Wagner PMC have been identified

The Insider has identified the Ministry of Defense officers who are “breaking” Russian servicemen who have refused to wage war in Ukraine at a special detention center in Brianka, Luhansk Region. They aim to recruit the soldiers to Wagner PMC. The identities have been confirmed by the contract soldiers and their relatives.

One of the officers is Col. Oleg Nechiporenko, the executive officer of the 51st Air Defense Division (Military Unit 42352) for military policy education. A soldier who has made it out of the detention center identified him in the photo. According to him, it was Nechiporenko who recruited the “balkers” to join Wagner PMC, suggesting that they sign merc contracts.

Another Ministry of Defense official is a Lt. Col. Tumanov, as he introduces himself to servicemen. The soldiers who are being kept in the pit believe Tumanov to be a deputy of Col. Gen. Sergey Kuralenko, Chief of the Main Directorate of Russia's Military Police.