# Potok (PMC)

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**“Potok”** is a volunteer battalion or [PMC](/source/Private_military_company) (Private Military Company), which is participating in [Russia](/source/Russia)'s invasion of [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine).[1][2][3] According to an investigation by [BBC News](/source/BBC_News),[4] *[Financial Times](/source/Financial_Times)* and other media, "Potok" is associated with [Gazprom](/source/Gazprom) and integrated in [GRU's](/source/GRU_(Russian_Federation)) [Redut](/source/Redut). Like most other PMCs, it is part of the [Russian Armed Forces](/source/Russian_Armed_Forces).[5]

In addition to Potok, two other PMCs fighting in Ukraine are associated with Gazprom: [Fakel](/source/Fakel_(company)) and [Redut PMC](/source/Redut_(company)). It is known that Potok joined Redut, a PMC which is also controlled by the [Russian MoD](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(Russia)).[6][7]

"Potok"[8][9][10] is composed of security officers from the Gazprom corporation, and is assigned to [BARS](/source/BARS_(Russia)). It is believed that the discipline in "Potok" is less strict than in other parts.[2] Recruitment for Potok and Fakel began in August 2022. Gazprom recruited mainly security guards and other low-skilled employees of state-owned companies, promising attractive conditions of service.[11]

"Potok" took part in the battles near [Bakhmut](/source/Bakhmut), taking over some of "Wagner's" positions, but abandoned them due to poor preparation and supplies. According to [Yevgeny Prigozhin](/source/Yevgeny_Prigozhin), Gazprom created its own PMC "in order to dilute the [Wagner PMC](/source/Wagner_Group)".[1] They were last seen on 17 July 2023 from Yakolivka to Krasnopolivka near Bakhmut.[12]

## References

1. [""Хотят помочь остаться у власти Путину". Зачем "Газпром" создает свою ЧВК и будет ли она воевать в Украине – журналист-расследователь"](https://www.currenttime.tv/a/32376899.html) (in Russian). *Настоящее Время*. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. [""Поток" под Бахмутом. Что известно о ЧВК, связанных с "Газпромом""](https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-65602020) (in Russian). *BBC News Русская служба*. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. ["«Вагнера» поставили на «Поток». Из-за чего поссорились российские силовики?"](https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/04/28/vagnera-postavili-na-potok). *Новая газета Европа*. 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. [""Факел», «Поток» и «Редут» В Украине воюют три ЧВК, связанных с «Газпромом». Главное из расследования «Русской службы Би-би-си""](https://meduza.io/feature/2023/05/16/fakel-potok-i-redut-russkaya-sluzhba-bi-bi-si-rasskazala-o-voyuyuschih-v-ukraine-chvk-svyazannyh-s-gazpromom) (in Russian). *Meduza*. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. ["«Нас называли "их там нет"». Как российские миллиардеры поставляют российской армии наемников"](https://istories.media/stories/2023/08/01/nas-nazivali-ikh-tam-net-kak-rossiiskie-milliarderi-postavlyayut-rossiiskoi-armii-naemnikov/). *istories.media*. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. ["It's not just Wagner At least three Gazprom-linked private military companies now have fighters in Ukraine"](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/05/16/it-s-not-just-wagner). *Meduza*. 2023-05-16. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230610125440/https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/05/16/it-s-not-just-wagner) 2023-06-10 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["ISW says competition between Russian PMCs is growing in Bakhmut"](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/04/27/7399603/). *Ukrainska Pravda*. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. Идель.Реалии; Крутов, Марк; Добрынин, Сергей (2023-05-19). ["Лаборатории смерти. "Частные" армии России будущего"](https://www.svoboda.org/a/laboratorii-smerti-chastnye-armii-rossii-buduschego-/32418580.html) (in Russian). *Радио Свобода*. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. [""Редут", БАРС, "Дон", "Поток": какие в России действуют ЧВК, кроме "Вагнера", и кто за ними стоит"](https://www.currenttime.tv/a/russian-private-military-companies/32422559.html) (in Russian). *Настоящее Время*. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. ["Все говорят о "Вагнере". Но есть и другие российские наемники. Кто они?"](https://ru.euronews.com/2023/05/17/web-russias-other-mercenaries) (in Russian). *euronews*. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. Miller, Christopher; Seddon, Max; Ivanova, Polina (2023-06-02). ["'Stream' and 'Torch': the Gazprom-backed militias fighting in Ukraine"](https://www.ft.com/content/4dd0aa0a-4b37-4082-8db0-0b969c539677). *Financial Times*. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

1. ["CDS Daily brief. 16.07.2023"](https://cdsdailybrief.substack.com/p/cds-daily-brief-16072023). *CDS’s Substack*. 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Potok (PMC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potok_(PMC)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potok_(PMC)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.