Wagner Group, Russian PMCs & Ukraine - History, motives & privatised warfare

For centuries, leaders often depended on bands of mercenary warriors to make up their military strength in times of war, but as national militaries evolved, these formations shank from prominence, with modern PMCs generally being focused on support roles like base or VIP security or logistics (even if their contracts grew massively post 2001).
Wagner doesn't follow that example. A force tens of thousands strong, Wagner has helped spearhead the Russian offensives around Bakhmut, and taken on international prominence.
In this episode, I look at the evolution of PMCs, Russia's modern employment of them, and the implications of Wagner's role in Ukraine and its public spats with the Russian MoD.
Patreon:
/ perunau
Caveats and comments:
The usual caveats here apply, but with an extra layer of severity - Russian PMCs do not keep good, reliable public records of their activity.
All information presented should generally be considered qualified even where an appropriate words (e.g. 'reportedly') are not included.
Sources & Reading:
As a policy I do not directly link to Russian Government or Wagner materials, but this episode utilises material from telegram channels owned by or linked to both
CSIS - Russian PMCs
russianpmcs.csis.org/
Russian PMCs - CRS
sgp.fas.org/crs/row/IF11650.pdf
War on the Rocks - Russia in Libya
warontherocks.com/2021/01/the...
Russian State Media - Putin on the value of PMCs
ria.ru/20120411/623227984.html
CSIS - Wagner and the Russian State
www.csis.org/blogs/post-sovie...
Anna Borshchevskaya - Russian PMCs
www.fpri.org/wp-content/uploa...
The Conversation - On Russian PMCs
theconversation.com/russias-r...
Testimony on Russian PMCs
www.csis.org/analysis/putins-...
Serbian Police close down Racoon base
balkaninsight.com/2018/08/17/...
Wagner prisoner recruitment ceases
www.reuters.com/world/europe/...
Prigozhin on ammo
www.rferl.org/a/prigozhin-wag...
Mangushev shot dead:
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...
"Implausible Deniability" - Carnegie Endowment
carnegieendowment.org/2020/06...
Decree on Gazprom - PSC
publication.pravo.gov.ru/Docum...
Jamestown foundation - Vega Strategic Services
jamestown.org/program/vega-st...
Jamestown Foundation - Russian PMCs
jamestown.org/program/from-vo...
A deeper look at Vegacy by the Atlantic Council DFRL:
/ a-deeper-look-into-veg...
Wagner in Mozambique
www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/1...
Wagner declared a transnational criminal organisation
home.treasury.gov/news/press-...
Ukrainian claims RE Patriot PMC
/ 1608131037099425793
Reporting on Wagner deployment in March 2022
www.usnews.com/news/world/art...
Wagner - sledgehammer execution
www.rferl.org/a/telegram-vagn...
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Opening
00:03:21 - WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT
00:04:34 - MERCENARIES, PMC & VOLUNTEERS
00:06:58 - HISTORY
00:12:42 - European Golden Age: Condottieri
00:16:25 - DECLINE OF THE MERCS
00:22:35 - EVOLUTION OF RUSSIAN PMCs
00:26:04 - State Sponsorship
00:28:22 - Roles & Duties
00:36:17 - GLOBAL DEPLOYMENTS PRE-2022
00:36:34 - Syria 2015+
00:41:01 - Libya 2015+
00:42:45 - Central African Republic
00:45:04 - A Global Footprint
00:46:11 - WAGNER IN UKRAINE
00:51:25 - Understanding The Why
00:53:04 - WAGNER VS THE MINISTRY
00:53:40 - The Politics Of Wagner Success
00:58:24 - Ammunition & Recruitment
01:02:56 - Wagner Humbled?
01:04:28 - TO EVERY LORD, AN ARMY
01:04:36 - The Proliferation Of Russian PMCs
01:05:25 - Patriot & Vuhledar
01:06:16 - WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
01:08:19 - War, Motives, Stability
01:10:02 - CONCLUSIONS
01:10:52 - CHANNEL UPDATE

[@PerunAU]

I know this one has been in the works for a while - so hope you enjoy it. I went pretty all out with the history section this time so feel free to use the timestamps if you want to jump to 2022. Also, I say it in the video but this release marks a year since "all bling, no basics." To say it's been a heck of a journey since then would be an understatement. As I say in the conclusion, the fact I can keep doing these owes a lot to the incredible support an engagement over the last year. I just hope that I can continue to provide a product that's of some value to you all going forward - though I do look forward to the day when there is no longer a war in Ukraine and the channel can turn towards less tragic topics. Also - I would like to apologise to all German speakers for the butchery of Landsknecht in this video - Not even I know what on earth I did there. I think I scribbled it on the draft slide thinking *Check that spelling later* and then never did, then just read it as (incorrectly) written. Finally - because of the focus on Wagner I'm not sure I dedicated enough time in the video to explaining something that should be obvious but bears clarification. There is a massive difference between Wagner and the majority of legally registered PMCs that operate legitimately around the world, often providing critical security, support, or other services.

[@jansenart0]

Never let them give you a show on TV. That's a giant leap backwards. If anything, start a news site.

[@erikcrouch7881]

Thank you for what you do. Countless hours of listening, along with knowing I've been supporting someone that actually puts their money where their mouth is.. Nice to see principles still exist.

[@m.streicher8286]

The history section was fantastic

[@emotingtanooki6405]

I look forward to the day your presentations fall more into the category of education and less into the category of current events. I think a lot of people will be happy when defence economics becomes less relevant in their daily lives and the sooner that happens the better.

[@razzy1]

What would you think about talking about smaller nations 5th generation aircraft programs. Eg Sweden Japan and Pakistan

[@TieisAwsom]

This video gonna need a sequel now

[@Hi-uk1cu]

Yeah

[@Aanaartu]

My thoughts exactly!

[@TorricRoma]

Done

[@Nathan_Yahoo]

Yeah, for sure 🙈

[@331coolguy]

Perun is going to need to make a trilogy now.

[@overlord165]

When Perun finally starts his own PMC it'll be called "Perun" and offers logistical services and procurement assistance.

[@YanBaoQin]

Entirely a logistics and procurement company

[@CMY187]

I wouldn't be surprised if in the future Perun is running his own business that is involved in large-scale macro military procurement.

[@YanBaoQin]

@@CMY187 fuck, I'd work for it. And if I had the power to, I'd hire it

[@dx-ek4vr]

I wonder if his PMC would involve Nanomachines...

[@revantii]

Perun Strategic Services. A global leader in transporting and procuring weapons and heavy armaments to hot zones around the world. "PSS, We bring the lightning to YOU."

[@AnimarchyHistory]

Despite Rome’s best efforts. Carthage’s business model lives on.

[@juanwilson6321]

Carthage Rise up✊

[@gabrielcanejo187]

Pay someone else to solve our problems for us.

[@fourthknower9831]

technically you can argue Rome would go on to adopt Carthage's business model

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

@@juanwilson6321 Russia I mean Carthago Delenda Est.

[@peterlindsay9369]

“Gold cannot always find good soldiers, but that good soldiers can always find gold.” Machiavelli

[@kamikazemelon787]

The fact you’re putting out hour+ long videos on quite broad subjects that still relate to the current war, weekly, is staggering. Thanks for your work

[@alaeriia01]

Fooby? What are you doing here?

[@rebsredone450]

Considering human nature, this sort of content will not become obsolete for quite a while. Keep up the great work.

[@happy-rr7cv]

Not to mention theyre always information packed. And sometimes he manages to Chang my world view. The one about Vranyo culture one changed me

[@mikebandw186]

I might have passed college if every professor was this good.

[@BlueZirnitra]

I wish he'd run it through a spellchecker though. Adds an unprofessional note to an otherwise great deal of effort.

[@arias1234]

As a Battle tech fan I can confirm that one of my biggest fears is Comcast or Verizon getting its own PMC group

[@kanalkucker14]

😂😂

[@thewisp7447]

Listen, ComStar would crumble if hit with a lawsuit

[@robertsaget6918]

Pepsi had the world's 6th largest military for a minute

[@christophergraffam3552]

@@robertsaget6918 That is a myth.

[@didact9571]

Wagner's tactics do slightly mirror the Comguards at Tukayyid, except the comguards won

[@tdb7992]

You have shown a lot of respect to your audience by not dumbing down your content over the past year to appeal to the largest number of viewers. It is very refreshing to watch a video by a creator who realises we aren't idiots. Leaving out anything relating to statistics and complexities and only giving a passing glance to theories whilst throwing in superlatives and hyperbole would be a tragedy. And to hear all of this in my own accent just makes it that much better. Long live the Empire of Emutopia, down with the scoundrels of Kiwiland!

[@timh6845]

Until Kiwiland agrees to acknowledge Emutopia invented the pavlova and let us win the Bledisloe Cup once in a while, peace will be a distant hope.

[@glennpeterson1357]

Too bloody right, mates!

[@redssbalt5510]

Yeah I've noticed this especially with infographics vids

[@cah11111]

@@redssbalt5510 It's funny you bring up Infographics, I was just thinking the other day that they used to be a channel that, while I didn't implicitly trust them without 2nd verification, I generally considered them a reliable source of information on one view of geopolitics and history. Ever since the war in Ukraine kicked off though, the channel seems to have descended into a the pits of hyperbole, over-reaction, and suspiciously doomsayer culty content. From a brand and business perspective, I get it, catering to the lowest common denominator is always going to make you more money pound for pound as long as the quality barely peaks it's head above "shit". But it's kinda a disappointment that the creator seems to have fully sold out as far as Infographics has in the interests of growing the brand at the expense of the factuality and morality of their content.

[@cchutney348]

Exactly, a much needed breath of fresh air.

[@justanaveragetreeg1554]

Time to rewatch this video

[@Nothingseen]

"Apparently on the War Thunder Forum" is an astounding joke, timed at JUST the right part. Perun's humor is honestly one of the best parts of these, the jokes always underscore his points.

[@obsidianjane4413]

I also appreciate the obscure BattleTech ComStar reference.

[@XinMgu]

​@@obsidianjane4413 ? Where is that?

[@vandeheyeric]

@@XinMgu A reference to the Phone Company. Which is what ComStar is joked as being.

[@The_Bookman]

Omg the Battletech reference slayed me. 🤣

[@aussie_mantis3507]

wait, what timestamp is that at

[@MarcRavingMad]

Trooper Serfovic would be so proud to see Private Konskriptovic carrying on the family's proud military tradition.

[@CMY187]

Someone seriously needs to write and pitch a TV script including all the characters that Perun has created. And the lower-ranking characters such as Conscriptovich should have Cockney accents (East End of London). Directed by Guy Ritchie.

[@artell9877]

Da, Lt. Col. Oligarkovitch concurs.😇

[@Doomrider47]

Eastern Bloc Blackadder?

[@PobortzaPl]

​@@Doomrider47 Imperial Russia Blackadder for start. Military/scientifical expedition into Siberia. You get colonel Aristocratovich as its leader, deputy head scientist Prince Leftist-Ideologovich, major German von Baltic-Coast, scientist Former-Prisoner (Former Katorżniczowicz/Katorżnicki, he's Polish), sergeant Sometingvilli (sorry Georgians, can't fo better), local scout Native Achotnik (not his actual name, only two mentioned scientist cared to learn his name)...

[@TheSchultinator]

​@@Doomrider47 I'd watch it

[@NighttimeNubbs]

Even though it's "slideshow" based, this channel doubles greatly for audio podcast with how it's presented. I look forward to listening to it while working.

[@Destroyer120296]

Sameee

[@AHDBification]

I would really appreciate finding Perun on an actual podcast app.

[@1970Phoenix]

I too treat it as a pod cast.

[@junglesairsoftblog6311]

I listen to them as podcasts too, usually whilst driving by watching through brave browser with background playback enabled so I can lock the screen.

[@generalgarchomp333]

I listen to him at work all the time.

[@MFLuder-me1vn]

Turns out hiring a mercenary force led by a former restauranteur that recruits expendable soldiers from prisons is not such a good idea.

[@adambebb99]

🤔

[@sicKlown86]

If only there was some sort of historical precedent to warn against this eventuality. Live and learn I guess...

[@Humorless_Wokescold]

@@sicKlown86 I hear some Italian wrote something about that.

[@0-Kirby-0]

This video aged like fine wine, shows that Perun knows his shit.

[@trolleriffic]

@@Humorless_Wokescold Yeah, it was Niccolò Machiavelli wasn't it and that book he wrote about Prince?

[@hungrymusicwolf]

Russia: "We are against private military companies and militarily intervening in other countries" Also Russia: "But we sure as hell aren't against lying"

[@jackthorton10]

Well I trust that statement completely:)

[@CGplay186]

OneManWolfPack Lying is a defensive mechanism, everybody does it and if you don't people will take advantage of you, like how all is doing that too Ukraine

[@Edax_Royeaux]

@@CGplay186 "When two meet in honesty, both may profit from the day." - Japanese Proverb

[@Supergoldk]

Awesome 😂

[@hungrymusicwolf]

@@CGplay186 Lying maybe a defensive mechanism, but not everybody does it. Only liars claim that to soothe their own conscience.

[@chrisburns4297]

Back in the day, I met a young, ex VDV trooper, let's call him Max. He was now working security for a Russian colonel/businessman. He told me that he had earned $100/month in the army while stationed in Afghanistan, but now earned $400/month driving his boss around. He told me that there had been months when he hadn't been paid while serving in Afghanistan, but was now receiving regular pay and was considerably less likely to get killed. He was killed soon after in a dispute between his boss and a competitor.

[@geopolitix7770]

Ruzzia. 🤦‍♂️

[@Chiboza]

Young VDV guy… in Afghanistan… he served with ISAF or for taliban? defined, not a made up story. 400 a month is what you earn in a factory in Russia…

[@quanganhvu6791]

Sounds like the 90s alright

[@chrisburns4297]

@@Chiboza I see it's also risky writing about people you met for a few hours 30 years ago , but I may have misunderstood as your English was unclear

[@chrisburns4297]

Yes, it was 1993, in Warsaw, Poland

[@sebastianheimann7639]

„There is no war in Ba Sing Se“ is a fantastic reference 😂 I‘m honestly watching videos about military development and defence economics for their comedic value. 😅

[@kleenbeats]

Any news agency that stumbles across this today (as Wagner moves to Moscow) just hit a gold mine of information!. As someone who has been viewing/listening to Peruns excellent weekly topical summation from the start, all I can say is… it’s about time! Hopefully now this man’s voice is brought into the broader public conversation via mainstream news. Well done Perun, exceptional work!

[@gmradio2436]

The man is already internationally recognized source.

[@robinbiddlecombe9202]

If someone had tod me a year ago that I would spend 50 hours, listening to pesentations about military procurement... The fact that I have speaks volumes about your ability to explain complex subjects in an interesting, detailed and humerous way. Thankyou Perun. When this war ends (hopefully soon) Please continue.

[@bertilhatt]

For everyone, this is a wonderful channel. For ex-officers who had to suffer death by PowerPoint, this must be… confusing to experience the same thing, but so much gooder.

[@afterthesmash]

If someone had told me on the day of my birth in the 1960s that I would spend many fruitless decades of my life _not_ listening to content of this caliber, I would have cried like a baby. I slogged around in a thick cloud of ignorance through four decades of my early life, and hated every minute of it. Many of us who participated in building up the Internet in the 1980s and 1990s felt exactly the same way. It wasn't obviously back then that the Internet would be an open network. Both Microsoft and IBM hatched different schemes along the way, with the backing of the US Intelligence community, who also viewed an open Internet as too threatening to exist. Come to think of it, there's very little difference reading _Applied Cryptography_ in the 1990s-essential reading if you wanted to understand political initiatives like the Clipper chip-and consuming this channel decades later. The truth is _always_ in the weeds around the main subject, regardless of whether the weeds are economic or technical.

[@vitaliitomas8121]

​@@bertilhatt"death by PowerPoint" Yeah, I'm borrowing that, thanks

[@bertilhatt]

@@vitaliitomas8121 Not mine; very common expression in corporate America. If I had to risk an attribution, probably Edward Tufte.

[@seidmadr2024]

As a Scandi, I'm inordinately happy that you referred to the Varangians by their cultures, rather than as "vikings", even serious professionals often mess up here, and your precision is noted and well appreciated!

[@AltF4OuttaHere]

You have a great pfp

[@backupaccount1315]

as far as I understood it "Viking" was an activity one pursued not a culture; to go raiding and/or trading up one or more viks

[@seidmadr2024]

@@backupaccount1315 Yeah, it's more or less analogous to "pirate".

[@seidmadr2024]

@@AltF4OuttaHere I'll relay your compliment to the model!

[@21stcenturybohemian]

Being of Norwegian heritage myself, I too am appreciative when people step away from the overly generalized viking mythos, especially among other Norse. The bastardization of my ancestry is painful at times.

[@mobius3506]

Perun says " . . . . the reason we are still here is because of the tremendous support from all of you . . . . " I say the reason this channel is still here is the VERY HIGH quality of the presentation[s] on a weekly basis. I've been thru many years of lecture presentations, high school, college, graduate school, etc. RARELY -- maybe never -- have I learned so much in any hour as I learn from EVERY hour of Perun

[@LiamDennehy]

Your segment on involvement in Africa is nuanced, thorough, and utterly heartbreaking. You are an amazing communicator, and you care. Keep doing what you do! ❤️

[@DebatingWombat]

I’m reminded of PMCs, such as Executive Outcomes (South Africa) and Sandline (UK) in the 1990s as somewhat analogous precursors of Wagner. Similarly, you could point to the French use of Bob Denard in the Comoros or “Mad” Mike Hoare on behalf of South Africa in the Seychelles as examples of precursors of “Wagner like” models being applied in Africa. This is not to make a “both sides” argument, but simply to flesh out a part of this otherwise excellent video that I found a bit thin, namely the use of mercenaries in Africa and how they were also used in the sort of plausible deniability functions that Wagner and other Russian mercenaries now fulfil for Russia (and also focused on resource rich and/or strategically important areas). Where the analogy breaks down is the close and continual cooperation between Wagner and similar Russian mercenary companies/PMCs and the Russian regular armed forces. This is rarely the way these other PMCs have operated, not least because it would totally destroy any plausible deniability value they might have and such cooperation would be rife in terms of the potential for political fallout.

[@My_initials_are_O.G.cuz_I_am]

Perun's proficiency in providing PowerPoint presentations pertaining procurement, purchases, power projection and paramilitaries perplexes me profusely.

[@bertiesmalls6081]

Pleasures me profusely*

[@DaveWhoa]

I feel like you're playing a game I'm not aware of

[@timcheeseman2956]

Need to wipe the screen after reading that aloud 😄

[@EShirako]

Alliteratively amazing accolades! :D

[@hungrymusicwolf]

That's a lot of P's without a T to finish out the PP...T presentation.

[@miketacos9034]

I'm so happy that hour-long lectures on military logistics is so popular. These videos are amazing and eyeopening.

[@milanvondelft268]

This video is about to do numbers

[@oldmanramblingatclouds]

I know, I'm one of them lol 😆

[@Admiral-General_Aladeen]

765k right now lets get to a million

[@Billy01113]

"As Battletech fans will know, as soon as the phone company gets the right to raise their own mercenary group, we are all truly stuffed" 🤣🤣🤣That one came out of left field and hit me hard, it's these pearls that truly raise Perun above the (already small and very select) masses of high quality longform contributer on these topics. Keep up the excellent work!

[@Saark]

Comstar

[@maxpower3990]

Not a joke you want to hear when driving to work.

[@tf2255]

I hope Tex hears that one. I could totally hear his voice repeating that quote.

[@idioluh5838]

Then all the real world issues will be covered with those entertaining 1+ hour long powerpoints, where is a whole battletech universe waiting for Perun :D

[@The_Foolish_Fool]

He missed the 2nd joke he could have said was "we are all truly focht"

[@aroniense21]

"Then, because apparently we are in a War Thunder forum, they too decided to release statistics online." Alright that one caught me off guard and I can't stop laughing

[@CMY187]

Problems always start from the top. Both Prigozhin and his enemies/rivals in the Russian MOD are being petty, petulant and spiteful, and there's no way that Putin not only doesn't know about it but also isn't actively allowing or even encouraging it. For any autocratic ruler, it is always better to keep your military divided, lest they decide to unite against you under the banner of a popular military commander. Unless of course you're Napoleon Bonaparte who was both an autocratic ruler and a popular military commander.

[@teresabenson3385]

I do think Perun should try to get some popular Western journalist or government official to make accusations about their dumb siting of ammunition dumps, just to see what happens. Who knows?

[@khanhvu6918]

Today is June 24th, 2023. Come back after 3 months, this vid aged like a fine wine 👍

[@jamesklamut3602]

A Canadian here. Very impressed by Perun's depth of research and analysis in this presentation. I discontinued my university education in early 2020 during the onset of the Covid pandemic and videos like this remind me of the mental stimulation I would receive by attending academic lectures on campus. Perun is like my Aussie professor. Lots of brilliant information here to unpack. Overall, I believe the long-term lesson of history future generations will glean from the wide scale death and destruction from this internecine conflict to occupy Ukrainian territory, is that Putin is a foolishly bold leader of modern Russia who refuses to acknowledge the limitations and restraints of projecting Russian imperial power abroad. He believes if he can ignore the setbacks that the demise of the Soviet Union incurred on the viability of Russian foreign imperialism, a bold nerve of steel will be enough to compensate for Russia's relative decline as an empire, that willpower alone will be the game changer that catapults Russia into a restored position as a global superpower. It's like he's oblivious to the realities and has fallen prey to his own ministry of state propaganda on Russian greatness and the infallibility of the Russian empire. Modern Russia in short, is little more than a resource basin, or a client state, to China's industrial workshop of factories. They sell energy and raw natural resources to China, hardly a recipe for constructing a global superpower. Putin clings to the notion that he's a Soviet Chairman of a bygone era when the early Soviet Union was benefitting from the inheritances of Russia's Tsarist period. Those days are long gone, except in Putin's delusional mind. This War and his penchant for private military contractors reflects these inconsistencies to abide by realistic expectations and their outcomes.

[@allengordon6929]

With the tin of poop gone, Russia can finally be free from the Tsar. And then europe will finally be safe.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I can literally sit back, put on my headphones, do my work, and listen to this solid information and basically multi-task. This is S-tier content.

[@erikthomsen4768]

Yeah I get a lot of laundry sorted out with these videos in the background.

[@DanielXStaub]

That is exactly what I do.

[@PapaOscarNovember]

On a positive note, Xenophon discovered Assyrian city ruins during his retreat from the disastrous mercenary contract in Persia.

[@thebandofbastards4934]

And his retreat into Sparta gave us plenty of information about Spartan culture

[@trikyy7238]

In PMC Russia, you produce the ruins.

[@JWP-56]

Solving a problem by finding remnants of another problem.

[@SusCalvin]

These dudes know there were older civilizations coming before them, they keep walking over the same ruins we see today.

[@0-Kirby-0]

15:47 That pronunciation of Landsknecht is hilarious to me as a German speaker, you turned "Servant of the Land" into a broken "Country Snail"

[@savethemanual5960]

Perfect time to rewatch this video

[@dzengrinder]

Thanks again, brilliant as always. As a Russian though, I would like to point out that Prigozhin's influence is very VERY overblown. Vladimir Milov made quite a decent paper on him, and how the overall institutional influence works in Russia. If you look at his conflicts with Beglov (mayor of St. Petersburg, who barely has any influence within the system) or Belgorod oblast's administration - nothing came out of it, and now, ministry of defense mostly tries to get large parts of his regiments under direct control. And one more golden rule for you guys. There's a thing, that's a meme in Russia, so called "Surkov's syndrome" - the more public presence someone has, the less actual influence they actually have in the system. So far, it worked every time. Cheers!

[@byzantinehoney3384]

Shut up orc

[@CMY187]

In my opinion, Prigozhin's arrogance and ego is his biggest weakness. He was and still is being far too loud and obvious in his posturing and jockeying for power and influence (even Stalin knew when to be subtle as he was ascending the ranks of the Bolsheviks). In my opinion, Prigozhin now has no choice but to go all-in at Bakhmut. The guy does not strike me as a complete idiot (I find it worrying that he is actually praising and complimenting the Ukrainians. It's always better to have your enemy underestimate you). He probably is aware that Russia now has no chance of conquering the entirety of Ukraine, and I suspect that he is also aware that if he were to fail to capture Bakhmut, he probably wouldn't live for very long afterward. He has made far too many enemies within Russia who would love to see him fail and even seize Wagner from him. So he HAS to take Bakhmut. His life likely depends on it. Also, if the time comes when the Kremlin decides that Prigozhin has to die, it probably would be Prigozhin's own men who would murder him. That's usually how these things go.

[@dzengrinder]

@@byzantinehoney3384 Nice try, Lahta

[@PerunAU]

it's a good point... Wagner has clearly increased his profile, but that doesn't mean he's at the top of the hill. I've seen people suggest him as a candidate to seize power and take Putins job....that strikes me as pure fantasy

[@dzengrinder]

@@PerunAU Absolutely, no way it happens. I'd bet more on people like Mishustin or Sobyanin.

[@seanwitherspoon1343]

"and as BattleTech fans will know, as soon as the phone company gets the right to form a Mercenary group, we are all truly stuffed" - Well done Perun, well done.

[@Oxide_does_his_best]

A video that briefs on the specific characters on both sides may be good. The new Ukrainian MOD, Prigozhin, Girkin, ect. Who they are, what they’ve done, what tattoos they have. Last one is a joke but you get the idea.

[@AleXxTM123]

I bet 20 buck that Prigozhin has a tramp stamp.

[@TheReykjavik]

I think by doing long form content, you are doing more good for the information space than just in the Ukraine and military procurement subjects. I think too much media is condensed into 2 minute segments, or worse, soundbites. But most topics require time to explain, and getting it right takes more research than the time it takes to watch. I think we will all be better off if more content creators take the time to get it right. A single once weekly one hour presentation can contain more useful knowledge than a full 8 hours of 2 minute clips.

[@DionWTF]

Honestly Perun, how do you get across this much information, distill it, and present it in an entertaining and educational way every week?

[@PerunAU]

There's a pretty tight system that I follow for gathering information and I work on perhaps two dozen topics at any given time, passively collecting information as it comes in. Once a topic gets close to having enough material and a decent confidence level I swap to actively trying to close out the gaps - seeking background interviews, checking with contacts, and gathering data that I suspect/know is out there that will round out the analysis. Plus I use a low tech presentation medium (PPT) and don't script the presentation to save additional time so as much as possible can be focussed on collection and analysis.

[@DaveWhoa]

well it does take him a full week to compile! hence quality, not quantity

[@emotingtanooki6405]

​@@PerunAU I have gotten the impression you also have a history of doing presentations before you started them on KZbin. I imagine that experience helps a lot. I don't think I've heard/seen you actually confirm that so I'm asking directly: how much experience did you have in presentations before All Bling No Basics? (I'm aware discretion means you can't give details, I'm just asking in general terms)

[@PerunAU]

​@@emotingtanooki6405 I present a lot, the hardest thing to adjust to for this is doing it to a computer screen without an audience to pivot off or draw cues from. with people you can read if people are engaged or bored, here I have to predict the future

[@emotingtanooki6405]

@@PerunAU I know how that goes. There is a big difference between providing Support and writing up Support documentation. You don't realize how much you tailor your methods in response to an audience until you suddenly don't have one (in my experience).

[@Ihasanart]

Who else remembers that time Russia pressured Mali to basically evict the French from their territory much to Mali's detriment, then the moment the French left Wagner troops moved into a former French base, immediately executed several villages of civilians and then buried the bodies in mass graves in the former French base and tried to pin it on the French, all while it was watched live by French satelites and UAS birds.

[@CMY187]

This is what really gets me about Wagner; they are really, really bad at public relations. In my opinion, Wagner could help to win tactical battles, but not to win strategic wars. And if we're looking at their casualties and losses and the sluggish rate at which they are advancing, they aren't even very good at winning tactical battles. Because let's face it, if you are a mercenary leader and you tell me that it will take you at least eight months and tens of thousands of casualties for you to take a single town, and that you expect me to supply you with ammunition, food and other equipment throughout all of those months, I would probably decide to find someone else to do the job.

[@badluck5647]

Mali wanted to reject the French as France is less tolerant of the Mali government's war crimes and human rights violations than the Russian mercenaries.

[@Princip666]

I'm sure everything you wrote is true.🤡

[@lar4agames576]

Perun generally tried to talk less about the war crimes of these bandits. And the story of the glorification of the massacre of the Syrians with a sledgehammer can tell everything that you need to know about this people...

[@badluck5647]

@@CMY187 Wagner just lies about the causalities. Their PR makes Russian believe that they have practically wiped out the Ukrainian forces for very little causalities in return. Just look at the Russian trolls who think the Ukrainian defenses are just old men and pre-teens. The Russian public also seems to put little value in the lives of their soldiers, so I imagine they care less about dead prisoners.

[@user-nb8lm9wc8u]

Perun cooking up an ultimate follow up

[@andrewbarnes-lo5vl]

I’m surprised Machiavelli didn’t get a mention… he had some interesting observations about mercenary armies & especially their loyalty when things get sticky. Thanks for your work though, your videos are very informative & insightful

[@CommissionerSleer]

It's a long time since I read The Prince but, IIRC, a whole chapter was devoted to mercenaries and the TLDR was in agreement with Perun. First result googling "machiavelli mercenaries quote": "Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies; they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to men, and destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is; for in peace one is robbed by them, and in war by the enemy. The fact is, they have no other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend, which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you. They are ready enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war, but if war comes they take themselves off or run from the foe; which I should have little trouble to prove, for the ruin of Italy has been caused by nothing else than by resting all her hopes for many years on mercenaries, and although they formerly made some display and appeared valiant amongst themselves, yet when the foreigners came they showed what they were."

[@andrewbarnes-lo5vl]

@@CommissionerSleer thank you for posting this quote, that was the passage I recall too & recent events in Russia have shown Machiavelli’s observations still stand true. I find it curious that Machiavelli has become synonymous with ruthless & self-serving attitudes, whereas I read The Prince as an objective synopsis of the various types of rule over people & the potential pitfalls & outcomes of each

[@CommissionerSleer]

@@andrewbarnes-lo5vl You're welcome. And thank you for replying now after Prigozhin's bungled coup adds a very interesting example to history. I totally agree about the misrepresentation of Machiavelli. He was an honest pragmatist and was saying relatively good things in comparison to what most people were actually doing at the time. 'Ruthless' is somewhat justified - if I recall correctly, at an extreme, he would analyse if torture was effective, irrespective of whether it's moral but I think that's because he understood the former is a powerful argument and the latter is easily ignored. But he certainly wasn't self-centred or advocating that. The Prince is an attempt at a guide on how to be a good ruler but understanding that being a good ruler, at the time, required maintaining rule and you can't be one if you're bankrupt or dead - so a lot is devoted to not becoming either of those things, which can require being a bit ruthless. It's morally neutral and an attempt at a scientific approach to the topic. I think there are two reasons he has become synonymous with those vices: Firstly, a lot of people seem to subscribe to the Zap Brannigan school of morality: "With enemies you know where they stand but with Neutrals, who knows? It sickens me." Behind that thinking lies, I think, people are a bit afraid that pragmatism will ultimately come to some horrific conclusions like it's good to fuck and eat babies, whereas the truth is probably the exact opposite: that we should all be vegan and keep our dicks to ourselves as much as possible. A wise pragmatist will factor in their own conscience and legacy, and the wellbeing of others as important criteria. I think the other problem is that the ruling class don't want the ruled over to be thinking like that. It's hard to order people to lay down their lives for you if they're weighing up the pros and cons instead of doing it just because you said so or because it's supposedly God's will. I think the ruling classes, with beautiful hypocrisy, preached to the masses that Machiavelli's pragmatism is evil and then went off to study it to get any tips and tricks they could (and were probably a bit disappointed that it wasn't as ruthless and evil as they told the masses it was).

[@jannarkiewicz633]

You are so self-critical of your video/audio quality. My GF is a 53-year-old attorney and chief legal officer and a major truck manufacturer (procurement!!!!). After 1 year of me following the war, I made her listen to 10 minutes of your first video. She was blown away. She understands labor law, manpower, contracts, resources, production line ramp-ups, and manufacturing lead times. She was stunned at your level of expertise the went back to her decluttering and cooking videos b/c Perun is too much like work to her. She very much respected your content (she 3 months into learning Spanish on KZbin ). She never once said, "Oh the audio is bad or the editing is bad." She was riveted.

[@andresalgado4553]

Best part of Sunday. Thank you for your work!

[@bart5158]

Perfect for a lazy Sunday

[@PalleRasmussen]

Perun and Drachinifel makes Sundays good.

[@timicoens1803]

Every week when it's Sunday I go "oh no, the week is ending and ending is bad" and then, poof, "NEW PERUN POWERPOINT DROPPED" and I'm happy again. Thank you very much PERUN. :)

[@etrecklefrancois2792]

Watching PPT and making pancakes, best part of Sunday morning.

[@grahamelliott9506]

@@PalleRasmussen there was a new kings and generals vid on ukraine this morning for me too!!

[@GRILL332]

I’m so glad you took a flier on war reporting a year ago. I would have never heard of your gaming channel. You have become an asset to the information we need on the war and I appreciate your work. I consider you a news research reporter. And your damn good at it.

[@TheSword2212]

I was subscribed to him before the war started. The guides he was making were for a very niche game that is far from mainstream.

[@hedgehog3528]

I’m here because of the thing

[@michaelsnyder3871]

This begins to look like the German war effort by 1945: Goering has his own ground troops, Fallschirmjager and Feld Divisions, then Himmler has the Waffen-SS, the local Gauleiters have the Volksturm, even the Kriegsmarine has naval infantry. Now you have Wagner, VDV belongs to the GRU, the Rosgvardiya, and then there's the regulars under the MoD and the "insurgent" forces of Donetsk and Luhansk.

[@jochentram9301]

Yes. Bear in mind that while joint militaries are more combat-effective in war, they also have the ability to remove the sitting government quite easily. This is not much of an issue where government rests largely on popular approval and legitimacy (most democracies), but very concerning in dictatorships. Quis custodiet custodes ipsos, after all. And in dictatorships (including the Roman Empire), the answer has tended to be "this *other* armed service. You cannot execute a coup against Putin without the Russian Armed Forces, but you also need Rosgvardia, the MVD, and at least the bigger PMCs on board. That's much harder to do without Putin noticing and nipping the whole project in the bud.

[@tite93]

VDV is a part of the Russian Armed Forces, military intelligence, GRU, is a separate thing

[@aaronmoore8477]

I have to wonder if the war really starts going bad and putins powers begins to wane if all these groups increase the chances of a coup.

[@wedgeantilles8575]

@@jochentram9301 IMO the Roman Empire does not fit very well in your scenario. In general I agree with you of course, but Rome does not fit. Why? Because in Rome itself the military power was only the Praetorians. That was the only military force in Italy - which is why in later years it became imperative that the reigning Ceasar had the blessing and approval of the Praetorians. There was even one time the Praetorians AUCTIONED the throne to the hightest bidder. In the Roman Empire the military fighting force was the legion - there did not exist any significant other force. (Of course there were some navel groups, e.g. on the Rhine). However, there were "imperial" regions, regions where the Emperor design somebody to govern it. (Different from senatorial regions). Those imperial regions were Egypt (because of the wealth) and typically everything that harbored several legions (-> mostly boarder regions.) In theory the emperor assigned only very loyal, trustworthy allies to those regions. Yet, a successfull commander was always a risk. Most famous is probably Nero and his extremly skilled general Corbulo. Who Nero ordered to commit suicide, because he was afraid of his standing with the troups. (Which is insanely stupid IMO. If Corbulo would not be loyal, this would definitly force him to go against Nero. And if he did commit suicide Nero would loose a loyal commander, a brilliant tactician. Loose Loose...) Corbulo was loyal and did commit suicide. And governors only governed a province for quite a short time (there were exceptions), to reduce the bond between them and the legions. In the end, the system did not work well anymore and civil wars plagued the Empire (leading to its destruction). After the death of an emperor, it became quite common that two (or more) governors of different regions considered themselves to be emperor. Sometimes prompted by their soldiers. Roman armies fought again and again against each other, weakening the empire. So Rome did not have several branches of fighting foces, the Praetorians being the only exception. And they again had no balance check in Italy itself. "checks and balances" was more importantly done by appointing governors, making restrictions in how long a governor was in a province, what he was allowed to do (recruiting / fighting).

[@jochentram9301]

@@wedgeantilles8575 One, "Rome" covers something like 2,000 years of history, so greater specificity is required. Two, for much of its history, including all of the Republic, the Principate and the Dominate, Rome made no distinction between civil and military authority; provincial governors were also military commanders. Border governors, like Varus, Vespasianus or whoever had Britain this year, could have multiple legions, plus auxiliaries, at their command. Three, you are correct that Roman Emperors worried, a lot, about troops hailing their commander as Imperator, but they had good reason to worry. Sulla and Caesar started with that. So did Augustus Divus Filius, to give the man's preferred name, and a great many others after him. Vespasianus, Traianus and Constantinus are likely the most famous, though I note that the *other* three of the Year of Four Emperors were also field commanders hailed as Imperator by their troops. Don't get me started on the number of provincial governors who *failed* to win the purple, we'd be here all week. Augustus Divus Filius set the limits on governors early. No wars without permission from the Augustus, period. No recruitment of military forces beyond what was authorised by the Augustus. After all, that is how Sulla and Caesar had got their start. The Praetorians were not always the only formed body of troops in Italy. The Urban Cohorts were a thing, after all. I will note that neither organisation cared to try Vespasianus, when he showed up at the head of several legions that had just suppressed the Great Jewish Revolt and won a civil war.

[@felixtroendle245]

A year later, I'm still really grateful that you're putting out free, seriously informative, and easily understood material like this. You've helped me understand a lot of important issues around this conflict in a way I never could have otherwise!

[@tomasg4623]

Of course it's free, why would you restrict the reach of your propaganda?

[@Kaskholm]

@@tomasg4623 OMG, we found the disinformation right here!!!! EVERYBODY LOOK AT TOMAS!!!

[@TheBitter73]

@@tomasg4623 I'm sure there is a source you have that would contradict this assessment by Perun? He's an Ausie doing his assessment as a sort of hobby/side gig. Which is a good way to describe lots of youtube. He doesn't have a "dog in the fight". Is your contradictory source the Russia MoD?

[@brad4268ify]

agreed

[@atarkus8]

@@TheBitter73 The problem with this guy is twofold. First it's presenting his own speculation (though to be fair he does point out that that's what it is) as some sort of authoritative take by organizing it into a sort of corporate powerpoint presentation complete with bullet points and cross references. Consultants everywhere would be proud! Now there are plenty of people on KZbin simply expressing their opinions, and there's nothing wrong with that, but he lulls you into believing you're getting some sort of in-depth analysis when it's very much a surface level summary based on assumptions, cherry picked statistics and great leaps of logic (this was true in that instance, therefore it will also be true in this other instance). For example after listening to this you'd still have no idea how Prigozhin became the head of Wagner, what are his ties to Putin, who they recruited prior to Ukraine, why the inmates willingly do what they do (he has a simplistic idea that they are motivated by fear, while the captured Wagner inmates say they feel a certain affinity for Prigozhin because he "understands them" having been an inmate himself...) And then you have what I would call lies by omission, or making your argument seem more solid by ignoring information you consider to be inconvenient. Could the rise of the Russian PMCs be a direct result of the Russians wanting to emulate American PMCs like Blackwater? It's very likely, but he hardly mentions them at all! He then ends on a sort of warning about Russian PMCs being a danger to world peace because war is big business without mentioning the orders of magnitude higher profiteering of the military industrial complex here in the US? You've got to be kidding. I know there will be cries of whatabboutism on that one, but not mentioning it is at best dishonest, and at worst bordering on propaganda like the poster above said. This is a consistent theme in his videos... Like the ones he made early in the war about how the Russian economy would collapse, while ignoring how the Soviets were actually more isolated than current Russia, and how exports made up something like 4% of their GDP until the 80s. The most important indication of whether a regime will last tend to be political not economic... but he's more interested in economics, so that's what he talks about... Anyway, this is also becoming a novel so I'll leave it there.

[@CaesarTjalbo]

I don't enjoy sitting down for an hour watching a powerpoint presentation but do so every sunday without fail. The material doesn't seem to diminish in quality, well done Perun.

[@Thetiersofmadness]

I believe an update video is in order

[@adambebb99]

I would like more history orientated content from Perun so we can hear more about Conscriptovich's ancestor Serfovich

[@allamasadi7970]

Also medievalic

[@oldmanramblingatclouds]

It's just downtrodden misery all through the ages, from modern Conscriptovich, to his medieval cousin Serfovich, to his Roman ancestor Servilius, that ancestor's Greek grandfather Heraclutz, all the way back to his long forgotten roots in Ancient Egypt with Kon-scrp-t-vsh (at least, that's what the hieroglyphics say).

[@adambebb99]

@@oldmanramblingatclouds Oh, the misery Everybody wants to be my enemy

[@TurboHappyCar]

@@oldmanramblingatclouds Sounds like the plot of the next Assassins Creed game, except potato farming. 😂

[@teevee5233]

I really hope you continue making awesome in depth videos about other topics after the war ends. You tell it the way I like, data fact, and call out the BS. The rest of my family roll their eyes when I watch these because they are so "long and boring", I roll my eye at the videos they watch because it's all "fluff and BS". You have an audience that appreciates truth, details, and depth of information.

[@btd5311]

recently, russian bots with finnish accounts were saying Nato will not download (save) finland. When translator gets it wrong but multiple "real people" still say it.

[@zombieoverlord5173]

That's funny as shit. Shows they can't get anyone who speaks Finish to even check their propaganda before they send it

[@sishoonchow9381]

"Then he took his all star, all arms force up against the old Swiss confederacy... And got his shit kicked in." Perun 2023

[@TheDominionOfElites]

A classic European fairytale

[@Marinealver]

As I said, Dream Team Syndrome. All the best in their field, but doesn't work well as a team, so the Dream Team fails and falls apart.

[@AkiseAk]

Regarding the swiss mercenaries, an anecdote from that time underlines just how prevalent they were; It's said that yodelling in the french army was punishable by death, as the swiss would all get incredibly homesick and leave for home upon hearing someone yodel.

[@rafanadir6958]

How do you know that?

[@CMY187]

Wait, what? Now I want to know more about this.

[@joevenespineli6389]

I don't get it

[@thatoneguy5856]

I think that’s a joke

[@gfdsasleu9141]

@@thatoneguy5856 it is not a joke

[@MrOtistetrax]

Always fascinating and informative and darkly entertaining, these videos are an essential resource at this dark time. I look forward to this war being over so that we can get some stuff about the complete collapse of the Russian "defense" apparatus. I'd also like to see a counterpart to this particular video discussing American use of PMCs and "contractors" over the last couple of decades. NOt because I'm trying to draw some false equivalence between Wagner and Blackwater (or whatever they go by these days), but because I think that too is a fascinating subject that could do with more scrutiny. Thanks, Perun. Keep up the good work.

[@mebibyte9347]

Fantastic as always. I can't thank you enough for these deep dives into a subject that is so often hard to get to the truth of when discussion online can be so mixed.

[@Oscar_SanJuan]

There was something I noticed the other day: Perun, I'm fairly certain that you're leading the space when covering subjects. The fact that your presentations are superb is a given, but I'm seeing other channels cover subjects you already uploaded months ago. When those channels usually do cover the concepts you already went over, it's usually 50%-70% shorter as well. The fact that you're so on the ball with these presentations is just astounding. I'll keep eating this stuff up.

[@dakaodo]

Ha ha, the Comstar joke wasn't the reference I came here expecting, but I've come to expect nothing less from Perun! Thank you as always.

[@matthewwadwell6100]

Though I think calling a _massive_ HPG a simple "phone" is a bit much..... 🤣

[@Khymerion]

Never insult Space AT&T.

[@rabidmidgeecosse1336]

yeah but did amazon by them before the star league collapsed?

[@Khymerion]

I think Amazon might have sided with Amaris and thus was purged/absorbed into the nascent ComStar... That might explain where the Word of Blake really came from... rogue elements of Amazon that secreted themselves into the heart of Star League Com Net during the reorganization into ComStar.

[@alexs1954]

“Pay your bills, fucko”

[@starkindustries26]

I’ve got to say your channel has become my new “work music”. It’s something I can listen to while working and learn something cool and stay informed. Credit to Pac-man for sending me your way. Love your content, be listening to this tomorrow at work. ❤

[@Tommiart]

Thanks for a year of dedicated focus on these issues. Deeper dives help set the context of what we see and hear in the newsbites. Like you, I think we all wish Ivan and his mates can go back to driving tractors tomorrow ❤

[@marcoherrmann1820]

Greetings Perun,greetings everyone

[@yuapanda]

Greetings fellow Sunday PowerPoint enthusiast.

[@melkor3496]

Greetings friend.

[@Sebastian_Thimm]

🤣, couldn't have said it better

[@riccardogemme]

Have to watch 3 1.5 hours presentations for university and yet here I am watching another over an hour long presentation. Proof that it's good stuff.

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

Surprise. He will have a test soon. Hope you have been making notes.

[@CaptainBooch]

All those long cutscenes in MGS 4 talking about PMCs taking over war come flooding back.

[@Boilerz1]

52:40, ''Wagner isn't capable of armoured blitzkriegs''... well I guess that requires an addendum now :D

[@Edax_Royeaux]

Incredible to see the photos of Moscow desperately digging up their own highways trying to stop the advance.

[@Mahrac126]

Is it really a blitzkrieg if you're just waved through enemy positions rather than having to punch through them?

[@Edax_Royeaux]

@@Mahrac126 Somewhat yes. If you can invade so quickly that no meaningful opposition can be formed, that's "lightning war".

[@wh8787]

"a nuclear armed PMC would be terrifying" *Hideo Kojima shifts nervously*

[@Betterhose]

15:45 Small correction: The word is "LandsKnecht(e)". Lands- mean the Land's/ the Country's and Knecht meaning servant. And the "ch" is pronounced more like the ch in CHicken or CHild not as a "k". The way you said it, it sounded like Land Snails - Land Schneckts 😄😄

[@PerunAU]

Most German I know I learned from a Slav who picked up a bit of it while in a refugee camp in Germany - unsurprisingly he never had reason to pick up the word and pronunciation for mercenaries of an era centuries past😄

[@e4arakon]

@@PerunAU the more you know

[@Betterhose]

@@PerunAU I've been watching (and enjoying) your powerpoint presentation style videos from the very start. Your pronunciation of the various German words in your videos has actually been surprisingly good, especially considering you never learned any of it in school. Keep up the great work!

[@alexandermuller7142]

@@PerunAU one cant really blame anyone for not speaking german.. if it werent my native tongue i would never be able to speak any of it.. But i think there are many of your "followers" (how do you name youtube fans? dont know..) who would love to spellcheck any language you come across. Dont hesitate to ask i guess, for german for example come to me, any time, any day.

[@PerunAU]

​@@alexandermuller7142 it's good practice and one I'll adopt going forward

[@pvb3562]

53:40 "Because succeeding is a political act." I think no one's ever quite put it into words like that. It explains a lot. Like when you do something good at work, everyone suddenly hates you. Succeeding is a political act. Whether it's geopolitics or office politics.

[@CMY187]

If you want to get promoted in a workplace, DON'T work hard.

[@boobah5643]

If hard work and success pisses your coworkers off, that's a toxic work environment. Get away. Get far away.

[@seneca983]

@@CMY187 It's not that simple and it can't be. If it were that simple everyone would do it but still not everyone can get promoted. (OK, not everyone wants to get promoted but usually there are still more people wanting that there are spots for them.)

[@karlr750]

First, I'll agree with @Boo Bah . If hard work and success piss off your coworkers (or bosses), then it's a toxic work environment, and you need to get out. That said, I can see where situations could arise where it might *appear* that​ @CMY187 is more correct. During my career, I learned two rules that guarantee job success: #1 (which works at *all* workplaces) - Make the person *above you* look good. There are plenty of people who will undercut their immediate boss in order to look good in front of the ultimate boss (or the client). This backfires. If you're making your immediate boss look bad, he'll/she'll get rid of you. If you're making him/her look good, you'll be protected like a sacred treasure. He/she will want to *ensure* you are happy. If *you're* the secret sauce behind their promotions, they'll bring you along for the ride. ​ #2 (which works at *non-toxic* workplaces) - Demonstrate that you can perform the skills of the level *above* you. Then they know that it's a *safe bet* to promote you.

[@Marinealver]

​@@boobah5643 sometimes you have no choice. Learned that the hard way at my last unit before my discharge. Let's just say you UT 2 fingers on your sternum to keep the K-Bar from sticking out. Such experience helps with with my current employment where the environment is such that people will avoid promotions because it's a trap. I have seen so many managers and supervisors that have came and gone that it is baffling how we are still "profitable". However it is true what they say, the most important battles a man can fight, is his own. Have Gun, Will Travel.

[@johninnh4880]

Very informative. I enjoy your videos and look forward to watching more of them. Thanks for taking the time and effort to post them.

[@RumenBlack]

Love the battletech reference about commstar

[@henrisalonen5022]

I actually missed the whole "as Battletech fans know" part and still jumped when I heard the armed phone company -thing. Tex of the Black Pants Legion has taught us well. Well made video again!

[@lahma69]

What an excellent, well researched compilation of information. Truly an excellent job! Keep up the great work!

[@Primarch359]

I REALLY appreciated the history portion of this video and hope you continue to provide such a breadth of background that follows a specific trend through time. In the videos in which it is appropriate.

[@Numtalegau]

On a cold rainy Winter day, Perun´s powerpoints are a ray of sunshine.

[@hamstermk4]

To be fair I didn't know I wanted hour long videos on military procurement until you started this whole thing. Thank you by the way, these videos have helped me better understand the world and have been a net positive in my life.

[@useodyseeorbitchute9450]

Yeah after analising my video feed, someone may reach a conclusion that not only my views are somewhat diverging from the mainstream, but also I must be planning ahead and learning basics of being a warlord. ;)

[@markrtoffeeman]

Enjoying your videos Perun. Been regularly watching for months now. Some fascinating commentaries you give

[@majestichotwings6974]

This is aging like a fine wine i see. This info is VERY interesting now lmao

[@lyubomyrmaron1594]

I can't imagine how difficult all the research and editing is for these Thank you so much for your work man

[@wrathcrusade]

he’s using powerpoint.. but y good research

[@als1023]

This channel deserves the accolades and sub base it has earned. The community it has gathered who spend 1+ hours every week, add their own valuable insights and comments says a lot about the quality and content. This particular 1 year anniversary had me laughing out loud ,, a lot ! Thank you for explaining this confounding mercenary agenda in ruzzia, I had no idea the history and depth of some of it. And special thanks to some of the excellent people who take the time to comment here.

[@SideKickStudios]

The work you're doing is gold, mate. It's like all the important things that people would want to know but for the first time ever, provided in a very easily consumable format. Most of us didn't think we'd watch an hour long episodes of PowerPoint presentations but, here we are. Hopefully this thing ends soon and when it does, id love to see you continue and do the same style presentations about WW2, that would be educational and interesting.

[@MIASpartan408]

Crazy to think you've been doing this for a year already. I loved your vids since All Bling No Basics, keep up the great (and highly informative) work!

[@AustrianChaos]

Every time after listening to one of your videos, I feel more educated and clear-eyed about this horrific conflict. Thank you so much for your efforts!!

[@armintargaryen9216]

I was awaiting this topic, and I'm early for once! Thank you for all your work! As a Spanish Law & Political Science grad, this videos are more instructive and go more in-depth than most of my classes ever did... My younger self and many of my college friends would be shocked by the idea of listening to long masterclasses in English for fun lol

[@sirdavidoftor3413]

@Armin: when I first started watching Perun’s videos, I suggested that he could teach logistics/ military studies at a university level. This is one video that I rarely miss, or fall asleep from. Everything is understandable, and easy to comprehend. He has enlightened my understanding of the conflict and how militaries operate! Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@glennpeterson1357]

Brilliant analysis - really interesting. Thanks Perun you are the best analyst on KZbin by far. Keep it up, mate!

[@plo250]

I’ve only found your channel recently and I am very, very impressed. The quality of your analysis is the best I have seen bar none and you clearly spend considerable time preparing/editing what you are going to say. Following this video here, I listened to your first serious one (really weird you used to do gaming videos to me 😂) and even today that video has relevance. All the best to you and Ukraine, hope you continue producing content until this terrible war is over.

[@malcaniscsm5184]

I am actively promoting this channel to basically everyone who will listen. The general signal to noise ratio in the information available to most people is not great, and it's incredibly valuable to be able to immediately counter popular talking points and misconceptions by linking to the relevent Perun. Also: happy birthday, I guess?

[@janeharrison835]

Perun, thank you for an incredible, informative year. I still go back and listen to All Bling, No Basics from time to time, and I am always amazed at how accurate it proved (and still proves) to be. I've lost count of how many times I've referred people to your videos, or used information learned from them. In a world of soundbites and clickbait, you have been a steady flow of accurate, well researched information presented in an entertaining and understandable way. :)

[@Sabu113]

So perun, this is quite relevant again. Maybe tweet it out?

[@mockingbird0901]

Been watching you for a year now, and as long as you have insightful things to say about subjects that interests me, i'll stay right here.

[@d.thomas6988]

Wow, a year already, I caught all bling no basics a week after it came out and haven't missed an episode since. My favorites were How corruption destroys armies Calling Russia's nuclear bluff End of tank? Thanks for the great material

[@scott_hunts]

After I got laid off in 2021 due to budget cuts I briefly considered joining a merc group in Ukraine. Fortunately for me the alcohol induced idea left me about 72 hours later, or about 5 minutes after I saw the videos of the group fighting some rebels in the donbas. Dying in a trench for a bombed out 300 yard stretch of land seemed like a worse option than simply trying harder at the job hunt, even if the field was experiencing a bit of a contraction.

[@tarask8611]

Keeping in mind there're no merc groups on the Ukrainian side

[@CMY187]

@@tarask8611 Honestly, I'm not so sure about that. There certainly are many volunteer units fighting for Ukraine, including perhaps most famously the Free Russia Legion (anti-Putin Russians who bear a white-blue-white flag, and who are outraged and in many cases furious at what the Kremlin is doing to both Ukraine and Russia), but it is possible that mercenaries are working for Ukraine as well. If so, if I were the Ukrainians, I would be cautious and wary of them. There is a reason that Machiavelli disapproves of the use of mercenaries.

[@scott_hunts]

@@tarask8611 I’m not so sure that’s true, maybe that change was made after I looked into it, maybe they were more of “decently paid volunteers”, or something similar. I was a bit intoxicated at the time though so it’s possible it was a pro-separatist group and I couldn’t tell the difference.

[@tarask8611]

@@CMY187 well, i can't say if i were the Ukrainians because I'm one, and for a country that scrapes together three tanks here and four howitzers there for the manpower it has no lack of paying some chaps for i don't know what (keeping in mind that the financial resources are well damn limited) risking international reputation at the same time - this is an activity that should unlock "dumbass" achievement to whoever would try to carry it out.

[@CMY187]

@@tarask8611 International reputation is definitely a very important and I would even say critical element for Ukraine in this war, and mercenaries honestly really do not add credence to a moral or ethical narrative. If there are indeed mercenaries fighting for Ukraine, it's likely that they are not allowed to publicize their own presence or activities.

[@davidl.7317]

Outstanding content and analysis, interesting, relevant to current events. Maybe my favorite of your casts to date. Thank you.

[@mikerage1011]

Perun. We all appreciate your time and effort put into everyone of your videos. With the way news is always tilted towards one narrative or the other it’s refreshing to just get facts and true information as best as it can be given. This is why your channel has had the impact it has. As well as your perspective from the economics of war and military. This side really isn’t given especially to the extent of detail you have. So thanks again for all your hard work as we all look forward for many videos to come.

[@connormclernon26]

So basically Wagner has adopted the Imperial Guard from Warhammer 40K way of war. Shows just how horrifying that way of fighting actually is.

[@andrewhawkins6754]

Yup. If you're emulating the empire from 40k, you're doing something wrong.

[@YourSocialistAutomaton]

​@@andrewhawkins6754 your doing it right actually.

[@Veriv213]

They just forgot about 40K technology. What a unfortunate coincidence

[@nicolasolton]

@AfroSyrianDude 🇸🇾 right in what sense? Morally right?

[@herptek]

The imperial guard of that franchise is rather based on the actual imperial guard of the former Russian empire. In many nations where there are still officially named guards units is testament to this tradition, even though the original connection to the personal guard of the emperor has been long redundant. It is not only a Russian tradition and it has almost nothing to do with mercenaries like the Wagner Group, almost the opposite. The guards designation is supposed to indicate an elite unit instead of basically a penal battalion.

[@Girrahotam]

The weekly Perun drop! I never would have guessed a year ago, my favorite channel would be an hour long power point presentation! Keep up the outstanding work!

[@Cornucopia8]

One year since I started following your analysis. I really enjoy the way you discuss the weft and worf of a topic; social, political; military tactical, strategic; economic and logistical. Keep up the gobbets of humour!

[@cursoryraptor1578]

Outstanding as usual, Perun. Thank you for making such high quality content.

[@Oddball_E8]

It's amazing how this channel went from a Gaming Channel to a top-grade information channel at the flip of a switch. You are making some of the best information videos out there and it just came out of nowhere a year ago.

[@nancydelu4061]

I could not agree more!

[@attilamarics3374]

@@nancydelu4061 I dont find any of this info stat informative. A lot of time he just sprinkels lies into his essay. It just seem like a properly researched video, not to mention the previous ones.

[@boobah5643]

@@attilamarics3374 Name and shame, dude. If he's making mistakes (or even 'mistakes,') then cite them and source your corrections. I can't speak for anybody else, but I'm here for information. A blanket "Nuh-uh!" doesn't cut it.

[@attilamarics3374]

@@boobah5643 i wont even watch the video. Im not a moron pls. I saw some of his previous ones and they were full of assumptions. He barely have sources. Good enough sources. I dont know whats in this shitty video, but i would bet my life on that sledghammer executions are in it by wagner. When we have pictures recent pictures about these executed people being alive.

[@BoraHorzaGobuchul]

A true Davinci moment, yes. Wonder what he'll do next, build a competitor to Amazon (all the logistics experience has to be put to some use), or to Space X.

[@naturalcauses4193]

As usual, Perun, your analysis is measured and insightful. However it is the reference to “No war in Ba Singh Se” 😂which compels me to write to you. You remain eclectic and esoteric … and a true geek 😊.

[@Haan22]

His Battletech reference was also on point.

[@ptonpc]

Always fascinating to watch these. Thanks Perun.

[@tomkelley4119]

Incredible job with this one. Well worth the wait.

[@Dawa1147]

"Because apparently we are now on the War Thunder forum..." Jesus Christ XD You cant just say that out of nowhere, you make me spit out my tea in laughter! My guy, keep up your work, these witty comments are absolute class! (1:00:33)