All articles tagged with #wagner group
A Leicestershire drug dealer, Dylan Earl, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a campaign of terrorism and sabotage in the UK in support of Russia, including arson attacks on a warehouse bound for Ukraine and efforts to gather intelligence for the Wagner Group, with sentencing scheduled at the Old Bailey.
Russia's attempt to expand influence in Mali through Wagner mercenaries has largely failed to improve security, with increased violence, internal tensions, and public disillusionment, leading Mali to consider diversifying its international partnerships beyond Russia.
Small-time criminals in London were hired to set fire to a warehouse linked to Ukraine communications, with connections to Russia's Wagner Group, highlighting covert Russian efforts to sow chaos in the UK and support their interests in Ukraine. Several individuals involved have been convicted, revealing a broader strategy of sabotage and destabilization.
The Wagner Group is leaving Mali after over three years of fighting Islamist insurgents, but Russia's presence remains through the Africa Corps, a paramilitary force also under Russian control, which will continue operations in the country.
The Wagner Group announced its withdrawal from Mali after claiming to have completed its main mission in fighting terrorism, amid ongoing militant attacks and increased insecurity in the region. Despite their departure, Russian influence in Mali and the broader Sahel region is expected to continue through other forces like Africa Corps, with the situation raising questions about the effectiveness of Wagner's operations.
The return of Russian soldiers from the war in Ukraine has led to a surge in violent crimes within Russia, with many veterans feeling above the law due to their wartime service. Independent reports estimate hundreds of Russians have been killed or injured by these returning soldiers, many of whom were recruited from prisons. The Russian government and media have hailed these soldiers as heroes, contributing to a culture of impunity and rising crime rates. Sociologists warn that this trend is normalizing violence in Russian society.
The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned two companies, one in Russia and one in the Central African Republic (CAR), for their involvement in advancing Russia's malign activities in CAR. The sanctioned companies have played a significant role in supporting the Private Military Company 'Wagner' and the activities of the Russian Federation in Africa, particularly through illicit natural resource extraction and financial support. The Wagner Group, a proxy military force of the Kremlin, has been involved in widespread human rights abuses and appropriation of natural resources across multiple African countries. The sanctions aim to disrupt the networks enabling Russia's illicit and destabilizing activities in Africa.
Former fighters from the Wagner Group, a notorious mercenary organization, are being absorbed into Russia's national guard, Rosgvardia, and may be deployed to Ukraine and Africa, according to Western intelligence. This move indicates Moscow's increasing control over the Wagner group and its expansion of influence in these regions. Rosgvardia, often referred to as Russian President Vladimir Putin's "private army," has been granted heavy weaponry and is establishing a presence in Russian-held regions of Ukraine, allowing Russia to exert control without relying on front-line troops. This development marks the latest chapter in Wagner's downfall, as it transitions from an independent force to being subsumed by the Russian state, with a new military formation called the Africa Corps attempting to recruit former Wagner mercenaries for combat operations across the continent.
Throughout 2023, Ukraine faced a series of grueling battles against Russian forces, characterized by attrition warfare and tactical innovation. The defense of Bakhmut became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, despite heavy losses on both sides. Ukraine's counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia aimed to cut Russian supply lines but faced immense challenges due to well-fortified Russian defenses and a lack of critical military supplies. Meanwhile, Russia regained the initiative in Donbas with a costly but politically motivated assault on Avdiivka. The year ended with uncertainty for Ukraine, as they held on to hope for continued Western support and the possibility of launching a successful crossing of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.
Western intelligence agencies and a Russian intelligence officer have claimed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, was killed in a plane crash ordered by Nikolai Patrushev, the chief of Russia's Security Council and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Patrushev allegedly warned Putin about Prigozhin's growing dissent against Russia's military leadership, leading to his sidelining. Prigozhin declared a mutiny against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov, but Patrushev organized negotiations to stop Wagner's advance. In August, Prigozhin died in a plane crash, believed to be caused by a small bomb placed under the wing. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the deaths.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's right-hand man, Nikolai Patrushev, allegedly ordered the assassination of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, following a brief mutiny in Russia. Patrushev saw Prigozhin as a threat due to his open criticism of top Russian military officials and his growing power. Putin did not object to the order, according to the report. Prigozhin and other top Wagner commanders were killed in August when their plane exploded, with the report contradicting Putin's claim that the explosion was caused by mishandled grenades. The Kremlin dismissed the report as "pulp fiction."
Russia's Wagner Group is gaining increasing influence in the Central African Republic, raising concerns about security and stability in the region. The presence of Russian mercenaries has been linked to human rights abuses and exacerbating the ongoing conflict in the country. The growing influence of Russia in the Central African Republic highlights the country's strategic importance in Russia's broader geopolitical ambitions.
Ukraine's decision to stay and defend the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, despite calls to withdraw, proved to be costly but ultimately paid off. By fighting tooth and nail, Ukraine managed to stop Russia from advancing further into eastern Ukraine, exhausted Russian forces, and hindered their ability to maintain a large strategic reserve. The battle also contributed to the downfall of the notorious Wagner Group, as their leader publicly criticized Russia's military leadership. Although Ukraine has faced setbacks in its counteroffensive, it has made territorial gains in the south and successfully targeted Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The outcome of ongoing operations near the Dnipro River remains uncertain.
The White House has declassified intelligence confirming that the Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group is preparing to provide an air defense capability to either Hezbollah or Iran, at the direction of the Russian government. The specific source of the missile system is not mentioned, but it was previously reported that Wagner Group was tasked with delivering a surface-to-air missile system to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to use counterterrorism sanctions against Russian individuals or entities involved in destabilizing transfers. This development highlights Russia's ongoing arms relationship with Iran and its proxies, as well as concerns about Hezbollah potentially opening a new front in Israel's conflict with Hamas.
The White House has declassified intelligence confirming that the Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group is preparing to provide an air defense capability to either Hezbollah or Iran, at the direction of the Russian government. The specific source of the missile system is not mentioned, but it was previously reported that Wagner Group was tasked with delivering a surface-to-air missile system to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to use counterterrorism sanctions against Russian individuals or entities involved in destabilizing transfers. This development highlights Russia's ongoing arms relationship with Iran and its proxies, as well as concerns about Hezbollah potentially opening a new front in Israel's conflict with Hamas.