Heavy losses in the summer of 2025 in failed Ukrainian campaigns have prompted Russian mercenary groups to go on a hiring spree. Private military companies linked to Russian GRU military intelligence have, since the start of summer, launched large-scale recruitment operations online and in various cities across the country. The Española battalion, formed in 2014 on the model of football …
In June 20205, Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted that Ukraine expel foreign fighters. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled that Ukraine might consider creating its own private military companies. Andrii Osadchuk, a lawmaker from the Holos party and first deputy head of the parliament’s Law Enforcement Committee, said he is “cautiously positive” about the idea but calls it “abstract” …
Russian and Chinese contractors (mercenaries) are on the move in Africa. These organizations approach their jobs from very different perspectives. The Wagner Group (and its successors) operate in combat zones like Mali, the Central African Republic, and Mozambique, providing military support to fragile regimes in exchange for mining rights and strategic access. Wagner’s model blends regime protection, propaganda, and force, …
In the hazardous world of offshore drilling and oil platform operations, injuries are unfortunately common. Workers face dangerous conditions daily, including heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and extreme weather. When injuries occur offshore, compensation can become complex due to jurisdictional and legal challenges. That’s where the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) plays a critical role. Passed in 1953, OCSLA extends …
Study results published in May 2025 link Chronic Nonallergic Rhinosinusitis (CNAR) with exposure to toxic burn pit smoke. According to the study, chronic rhinosinusitis may be associated with deployment-related burn pit exposure and can impact previously deployed individuals’ well-being; standard-of-care treatments have the potential to improve their health. Enhanced awareness of the effects of toxic exposures on veterans’ health may …
The Philippines is one of America’s oldest allies in the Pacific and has long served as a key partner in defense and security efforts. With joint training exercises, counterterrorism initiatives, and ongoing military cooperation, U.S. civilian contractors are frequently deployed to the Philippines in support of these missions. Contractors often work in roles ranging from construction and logistics to security, …
India has become an increasingly important partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. With growing defense cooperation, joint military exercises, and intelligence sharing, civilian contractors play a critical role in supporting U.S. operations, infrastructure projects, and logistics in the country. Thousands of American contractors work in India, often on projects tied to defense, technology, construction, security, and maintenance. …
The Syrian conflict has drawn in many parties, including loosely organized terrorist groups that use next-generation improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These IEDs are highly lethal, and even the concussive blast alone can cause a permanent traumatic brain injury (TBI). Syria has long been under the control of Bashar al-Assad, one of the most entrenched dictators in the region. His socialist …
Qatar, a small but affluent nation located on the Persian Gulf at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has long played a key role in U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Its geographical position makes it a vital staging area for regional missions, and the government of Qatar has been supportive of a U.S. presence since Operation Desert Storm …
Kuwait is a small, oil-rich country located at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf, bordered by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Its wealth and strategic position have made it a focus of global attention, and in the early 1990s, it became the target of aggression when Iraq attempted to annex the country. The United States led a …
Since the end of World War II, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in Japan. Immediately after the war, the U.S. served as an occupying force while the country was demilitarized to prevent future aggression. In 1951, the Treaty of San Francisco restored Japanese sovereignty. At the same time, the two nations signed the Japan-America Security Agreement, …
In many instances, private companies have served in para-military roles, providing mission support, personal security, and training the Iraqi forces. Many of these contractors were former military and relied on their training to perform their duties. Contractors often worked side by side with U.S. service members, facing the same dangers and incurring many of the same types of injuries. The …
