kontraktnikkontraktnik means A voluntary professional soldier of Russia under contract (not a conscript soldier).EtymologyFrom Russian контра́ктник (kontráktnik, literally “contractor, contractee”), from контракт (kontrakt, “contract”) + -ник (-nik, “profession, performer”).nounA voluntary professional soldier of Russia under contract (not a conscript soldier).“The kontraktniki, some with criminal backgrounds, others veterans of police and military units, are among the most feared of Russian forces, and the ones most often alleged to have committed atrocities.”