The Rise and Losses of Russia's Wagner Group Leader in Ukraine War

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a private military contractor made up of convicted Russian criminals, has become the tip of the spear for Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Prigozhin, who has a complex history and ambitions, has transformed himself from Putin's chef to a warlord, using social media to accelerate his brand and appeal to new recruits with ultranationalist propaganda. The Wagner Group serves as Russia's military proxy in far-flung areas of the world and has links to conflicts in Africa. Despite his audacious outbursts against the Kremlin elite, Prigozhin's power only exists at the mercy of Putin.