Barabash VRK
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Romanized name | Barabash Vyysʹkovy Ryshennya ta Konsaltynh |
|---|---|
| Private | |
| Industry | Private military and security services |
| Predecessor | SAR-ZBR Protection |
| Founded | March 16, 1998 in Sarsky Myr, Zamorodna |
| Founder | Lukyan Maksymuk Barabash |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Services | Arms manufacturing, security consulting, labour force management, private military services |
| Revenue | unknown |
| unknown | |
Number of employees | 31,000+ |
| Divisions | BKB Manufacturing Barabash Wealth Management |
Barabash Military Solutions and Consulting (Zamorodnian: Barabash Vyysʹkovy Ryshennya ta Konsaltynh), or Barabash VRK, is a private limited liability company founded by Lukyan Maksymuk Barabash. The company was formed out of the assets of SAR-ZBR Protection, a former security contractor. Barabash VRK offers a number of services worldwide, including private security, labour counter-organization, and military contracting.
The company's first major contract was made with the osavul of Sarsk'a Spyl'nota, Yvan Petruk Hmelnyts'skyy, in 2000. Since then, Barabash VRK has been responsible for the region's military operations. In 2008, Osavul Hmelnyts'skyy abdicated in favour of Barabash. Barabash VRK has continued to operate under Lukyan Maksymuk's leadership to the present day.
Barabash VRK and its proprietor are notoriously secretive regarding financials and personnel numbers. The total number of employees is estimated between 31,000 and 32,000. The number of personnel making up the security and military forces of the company is estimated at 8,000 to 9,000. The company has no obligation to file reports within Zamorodna and in the foreign jurisdictions that require reporting where Barabash VRK operates, it is frequently five to six years late in its filing, regularly accepting financial penalties in exchange for withholding up-to-date information.
History
Services
Barabash VRK offers a number of services, many of which can be personalized for a client's specific needs. Company personnel can be contracted for both direct action in security, transportation, hardware installation, enforcement, or general presence services. Other consultative services include media campaigning and wealth management. The categories of services as Barabash VRK offers them are private security, labour force management, military services, and financial services.
Private security
Barabash VRK offers three categories of security services: location, transportation, and personal. Location security services are the most common that the company provides, primarily in theft prevention and detection for stores, banks, and corporate offices. Ancillary services include guard dog training and closed-circuit television camera installation and monitoring, both on-site and off-site.
The second major security service that Barabash VRK provides is secured transportation. This service includes armoured car service to transfer cash or other valuable objects, either in routine movements or for chartered routes. Armoured car service makes use of reinforced trucks that feature bulletproof plating and glass to resist robbery or hijacking attempts. In certain jurisdictions, military-grade armoured fighting vehicles may be used instead. Special courier services include chartered armoured car routes, but can also include secured and discreet flight routes. Special courier services are most frequently used for the transportation of valuables or artwork between private collectors.
Personal services include escort and bodyguard services. Escort services are employed to protect a client who is moving through a dangerous area. Barabash VRK advertizes both armoured and discreet forms of escort services. Bodyguards can be employed for either events or residential services, protecting clients from unwanted attention or physical threats.
Labour force management
Labour counter-organization is a specialist consultative service provided by Barabash VRK. Labour force management can occur in one of three situations: during the process of organization, during the process of work actions, and in the regular course of organized employment. Barabash VRK insists that it is attentive to the labour laws of whatever jurisdiction they are operating in. However, the company has been criticized for ignoring or circumventing labour laws in many instances.
The company has a variety of tactics to prevent labour organization in the first place. These mainly entail media campaigning and the development of disincentive programs. Media campaigns can reach employees through targeted ads or through employer-organized information sessions. Barabash VRK consultants have a variety of presentations and materials designed to dissuade employees from organizing. Consultants also offer seminars for employers and managers to identify signs of labour organization early in order to prevent labour movements before they gain too much momentum.
During the course of a work action in which employees are either striking or interfering with the regular course of business, Barabash VRK offers specialized security services to prevent workplace damage. Consultants have also organized counter-demonstrations in the past. The company also has a replacement worker program to coordinate the transportation and accommodations for replacement workers in order to mitigate the impacts of work interruptions.
In workplaces that are actively unionized, Barabash VRK has had remarkable success in union-breaking. Many of the company's tactics in this service are confidential and the legality of their techniques has been questioned. Employees have reported that, following the contracting of Barabash VRK's services, key union members have been targeted with harassment, blackmail, and even threats of violence. Others have speculated that Barabash VRK contractors embedded themselves among the employees to spy on and identify problematic employees to management. Barabash VRK maintains that the company abides by local labour laws and that counter-union tactics typically only involve information sessions on union finances and media campaigning.
Military services
Barabash VRK branched into private military contracting in 2000 with the formation of a battalion-strength force of trained operatives. The company's private forces have since expanded to three battalions and several special detachments. Barabash VRK military forces can be contracted for escort, transportation, and other security services in active warzones, bodyguarding for important officials or officers, and general military operations. Military contracts are armed with a variety of licensed, privately purchased, and company-manufactured equipment including small arms, explosive ordnance, armoured combat vehicles, and helicopters.