Open source

Ukraine's SBU, the state security service has revealed the personal data of three militants from Wagner private military company; they sided with Russian mercenaries who fight in Syria. All three were killed in action.

It appears to be the reply to the Russian Foreign Ministry's flashmob called #TheyAreNotThere (IkhTamNet).

'Ukraine's security service joins the initiative of the Russian MFA, which launched the flashmob #TheyAreNotThere. We use this hashtag and release another selection of personal data of the mercenaries of Wagner PMC that participated in combat in Ukrainian Donbas. For the specific purpose of Mariya Zakharova (spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, - 112 International), we indicate the last names of Russia's unknown #59, #60 and #61 who died during the assault in Syria's Deiz-ez-Zor in February 2018. The names of the previous 58 were released on the website of the SBU,' reads the message.

The SBU added that the bodies of the deceased fighters were not handed over to their families until April, after the presidential election in Russia.

Previously, Ukraine's state security service identified 26 Russian officers who served as combat instructors in Wagner PMC. They trained the militants in many disciplines, such as tactical and firing practice, engineering and artillery practice; they trained the crew members of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and anti-aircraft defense systems.

Wagner mercenaries have been first spotted in Donbas in May 2014. They were involved in combat action in eastern Ukraine in 2014-2015; the Ukrainian military command insists they are responsible for the IL-76 tragedy, the attack on Luhansk airport (2014) and the siege of Debaltseve in early 2015. Then, they moved on to Syria, supporting the Russian army contingent within the Syrian campaign.