The Wagner group is a private military company (PMC) that operates as a group of entities and has been a key piece of Russia’s strategy in Ukraine. The group has been accused of committing atrocities, including mass murder and rape, in Africa and alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of the Wagner group and is also known as “Putin’s chef” due to his work running a catering company with Kremlin contracts.
Prigozhin is wanted by the FBI for “Conspiracy to Defraud the United States” and is accused of overseeing the political and electoral interference of the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency from 2014 to 2018.
The Wagner group has also been active in Africa, where some nations are turning to Wagner to fill security gaps or prop up dictatorial regimes. The group has been accused of exchanging services for almost unfettered access to natural resources in some countries.
What Is The Wagner group?
The Wagner group is a private military company that operates as a group of entities and has been a key piece of Russia’s strategy in Ukraine. PMCs can be hired by governments for security or combat services, but there are differences between the commonly accepted definition of a PMC and Russia’s version of the companies. Russia perceives these companies as a way of exerting state power in a covert way.
Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the founder of the Wagner group and is also known as “Putin’s chef” due to his work running a catering company with Kremlin contracts. Prigozhin is wanted by the FBI for “Conspiracy to Defraud the United States” and is accused of overseeing the political and electoral interference of the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency from 2014 to 2018. Prigozhin has criticized Russian military commanders as the country failed to make significant gains in Ukraine. Meanwhile, he has positioned himself as a hero.
Where Else Has The Wagner Group Operated?
Wagner first popped up in Ukraine in 2014, when soldiers in unmarked uniforms appeared to help pro-Russian forces illegally annex territory for Russia. In addition to deploying Wagner troops to Ukraine, the Wagner group has been active in Africa, where some nations are turning to Wagner to fill security gaps or prop up dictatorial regimes. In some countries, like the Central African Republic, Wagner exchanges services for almost unfettered access to natural resources.
How Does The Wagner Group Act?
As the operations of the once-shadowy group have become more public, so have their tactics. Wagner mercenaries have been accused of atrocities, including mass murder and rape, across Africa and alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Military experts say Wagner recruits have been poorly equipped or even used as cannon fodder. The group has been accused of exchanging services for almost unfettered access to natural resources in some countries.
What Is The Current Situation With The Wagner Group?
Tensions between Russia’s defense ministry and Wagner escalated dramatically when Prigozhin alleged that Russian forces had attacked Wagner field camps in eastern Ukraine. Prigozhin issued video taped remarks that appeared to call for a rebellion against Russian military leadership, but he was characteristically vague in defining his plans. Prigozhin said early Saturday that Wagner forces had left Ukraine for Russia and had reached the city of Rostov-on-Don, which is home to the Russian military headquarters for the southern region and oversees the fighting in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the uprising “a stab in the back” in a televised address.
