Since 2014, the Russian Federation has seen an increase in the number of operations performed by private military "contractors". Those who are de facto Moscow's mercenar-ies are committed to carrying out a series of tasks, as they offer support for Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine's Donbas or guard military and oil infrastructure in Syria. Also, their position is used to extend Russia's influence on African soil while safe-guarding Moscow's allied regimes in Latin America.