Founder of PMF "Yastreb" Alexei Maruchenko Probed for Fraud

10:41; 01 April 2026 year

### Russian Court Extends Arrest of Private Military Company Founder and Associates The Second Western Circuit Military Court, at the request of the Main Military Investigative Directorate, has extended the arrests of Alexei Marushchenko, founder of the private military company "Yastreb," and several other individuals associated with him. The arrests are related to allegations of fraud in the recruitment of new enlistees for service in an elite unit, as well as other serious crimes, according to a report by [Kommersant](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8552289). According to the investigation, the private military company "Yastreb" was registered in 2018. Upon joining the unit, recruits were promised a one-time payment of 1.8 million rubles and a monthly salary of at least 210,000 rubles. The defendants sought recruits among those entering military service under contract through the military commissariat. They assured potential recruits that by signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense, they would effectively serve in an elite unit with better conditions and higher pay. In return for facilitating their entry into the private military company, the defendants took money from the recruits. Thus, according to the investigation, an organized group led by Alexei Marushchenko deceived 95 future contract soldiers. The money received from them into the accounts of the accused, their family members, and certain "trusted individuals" was allegedly appropriated by the organizers of the criminal group. - Marushchenko was detained back in 2025. Following a decision by the garrison military court, he was joined in pre-trial detention by the founder of the Bryansk security company "Yaguar," Arthur Velisevich, and several other individuals. Subsequently, the defendants were charged with additional crimes, including extortion, intentional murder, and illegal trafficking of weapons and explosives.

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