Russia's Attempt to Control Wagner Mercenary Group Thwarted by Chief

The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, has refused to sign military contracts with Russia's defence ministry after it issued orders for all independent forces to do so by the end of June. The order did not mention Wagner, but the Russian media reported it was an attempt by the defence minister to bring the mercenaries to heel after a series of public outbursts by its controversial leader. The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said the order did not apply to Wagner and that the group was completely subordinate to the interests of Russia.