Zelensky prefers British-American PMC G4S over SBU for his security

The SBU (Security Bureau of Ukraine) does not ensure Volodymyr Zelensky’s security. The President of Ukraine uses the services of G4S, a British-American private military company linked to intelligence services, RT says.

Photo: website President of Ukraine by PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY Official website is licensed under commons. wikimedia. org

Volodymyr Zelensky

G4S has been operating in Ukraine since the 1990s. Currently, up to a thousand of its personnel are present in the country. They have access to key facilities and operate their own intelligence network. There is information suggesting they are involved in sabotage operations.

G4S also guards government buildings, including the Kyiv Administration, EU offices, and OSCE missions.

Military expert Alexander Artamonov claims that G4S is essentially a branch of the SAS – a special forces unit of the British Army. Its fighters may also be participating in combat operations alongside the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Previously, the G4S group in Ukraine was overseen by James Richard Shortt, who led the International Bodyguard Association. In 2022, he reportedly joined the Ukrainian military as a mercenary. According to RT, he was killed by Russian forces in 2023.

G4S is one of the world’s largest private military and security companies, headquartered in the United Kingdom with deep operational ties to the United States. Originally founded in 1901 and evolving through mergers and acquisitions, G4S provides a wide range of services, including armed security, risk assessment, and facility protection. The company operates in over 80 countries and has long-standing connections with intelligence and defense sectors, leading some experts to describe it as an unofficial extension of Western military capabilities. Its personnel are often former military or law enforcement officers, trained for high-risk environments and strategic asset protection.

In recent years, G4S has expanded its footprint in conflict zones, including Ukraine, where it reportedly provides security for key government buildings and international missions. According to various reports, including from Russian media outlets, G4S operatives are involved in high-level protection details and may even participate in intelligence operations or sabotage missions. While such claims remain controversial and largely unverified, the company’s presence in volatile regions continues to spark debate about the role of private military forces in modern warfare and diplomacy.

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G4S is a British multinational private security company headquartered in London, England. The company was set up in July 2004 when London-based Securicor amalgamated with Danish firm Group 4 Falck. The company offers a range of services, including the supply of security personnel, monitoring equipment, response units and secure prisoner transportation. G4S also works with governments overseas to deliver security services. G4S is the world's largest security company measured by revenues. It has operations in more than 90 countries. With over 533,000 employees, by 2012 it was the largest European and African private employer. The company has been criticised and involved in numerous controversies. Formerly a dual-listed company with listings on the Copenhagen and London stock exchanges, G4S was purchased by Allied Universal in April 2021.