Putin ally said to be in touch with Kremlin, Assad before his mercenaries attacked U.S. troops A Russian oligarch believed to control the Russian mercenaries who attacked U.S. troops and their allies in Syria this month was in close touch with Kremlin and Syrian officials in the days and weeks before and after the assault, according to U.S. intelligence reports. 3 046 0 Previously in trend: Wagner PMC debacle in Syria