Konstantin Aleksandrovich Pikalov (born 23 July 1968), call sign "Mazay", is a Russian colonel and former Wagner Group leader. Head of the group's operations in Africa, he has notably operated in the Central African Republic. He is also the founder of another private military company, "Convoy".[1][2][3]
Konstantin Pikalov | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Константин Александрович Пикалов (Russian) |
| Birth name | Konstantin Aleksandrovich Pikalov |
| Born | July 23, 1968 |
| Allegiance |  Russia Central African Republic |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit |  Wagner GroupPMC "Convoy" Central African Armed Forces (as a mercenary) |
| Battles / wars | Central African Republic Civil War |
PMC "Convoy"
editIn 2016, Konstantin Pikalov created "Convoy", a private security company based in Saint Petersburg.[4] "Convoy" has been active primarily in Africa.
In 2023, Pikalov and Sergey Aksyonov founded a new private paramilitary organization separate from Wagner Group, known by the name of a previously existing security company "Convoy". "Convoy" recruits mercenaries for Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5] Following the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état, the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that the United States could use the fallout of the then-recent Wagner Group rebellion to dislodge "Convoy" control in Africa.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Putin Chef's Kisses of Death: Russia's Shadow Army's State-Run Structure Exposed". bellingcat. 14 August 2020.
Wagner Group – which does not exist on paper – got its name from its purported founder and commander [...] From the data we have examined, it is not possible to determine who came up with the Wagner Group initiative.
- ^ "UK sanctions Wagner Group leaders and front companies responsible for violence and instability across Africa". GOV.UK. 20 July 2023.
- ^ "COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/433 of 25 February 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses". EUR-Lex. 25 February 2023.
- ^ https://checko.ru/company/vok-konvoy-1154712000024
- ^ https://istories.media/stories/2023/03/23/glava-krima-sozdal-sobstvennuyu-chvk-ona-svyazana-s-yevgeniem-prigozhinim/
- ^ Doxsee, Catrina (2023-06-26). "Prigozhin's Uncertain Future Could Help United States Dislodge Wagner Group in Africa".
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