In the winter of 2022–2023, an armed unit operated in the Kherson region of Ukraine for several months, striking fear into Russian career officers. It was also Russian: with its own insignia and numbering at least 60 members, the group was officially part of the 10th Company, “Sokol” battalion, 108th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment. In reality, however, they were loyal only to Senior Sergeant Dmitry Mayborodin, known as May. A former mercenary, Mayborodin seized control of two platoons, leading them like his own private army. Under his command, one soldier was tortured to death.

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