Russia's Wagner Mercenary Group: A Growing Concern for the West and Ukraine

Russia's security services have dropped criminal charges against the Wagner Group, the mercenary group responsible for a failed revolt over the weekend. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised government troops for defending the constitutional order and saving the country from turmoil. The government also admitted to paying the Wagner Group over $1 billion, revealing an official relationship. The group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has arrived in Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has suggested hiring Wagner forces as instructors. Neighboring countries like Latvia and Lithuania have called for NATO reinforcements in response. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russian missile strikes continue, prompting the US to pledge an additional $500 million in military aid.