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| What is Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries in Ukraine? | What is Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries in Ukraine? |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group has called off a rebellion and agreed to leave the country. | |
| Yevgeny Prigozhin had threatened to march on Moscow to force out Russia's defence minister - a move that provoked fury from President Vladimir Putin who promised to punish those who had "betrayed" Russia. | |
| Barely 36 hours into this confrontation, though, Prigozhin agreed to a deal that would see him move to Belarus. | |
| The Kremlin said he would not be prosecuted as a result, and neither would his loyal troops. Those who wished to could sign contracts to join the regular Russian armed forces. | |
| It remains unclear whether Prigozhin will remain in charge of any mercenaries and - if so - where they will be based. | |
| The Wagner Group is a private army of mercenaries that has been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine. It's estimated that tens of thousands of Wagner troops took part. | |
| The group describes itself as a "private military company", but the Russian government had recently been taking steps which were seen as an attempt to rein it in. | The group describes itself as a "private military company", but the Russian government had recently been taking steps which were seen as an attempt to rein it in. |
| What is Wagner Group and who is fighting for it? | What is Wagner Group and who is fighting for it? |
| The Wagner Group (officially called PMC Wagner) was first identified in 2014, when it was backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. | The Wagner Group (officially called PMC Wagner) was first identified in 2014, when it was backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. |
| At that time it was a secretive organisation, operating mostly in Africa and the Middle East, and is thought to have had only about 5,000 fighters - mostly veterans of Russia's elite regiments and special forces. | At that time it was a secretive organisation, operating mostly in Africa and the Middle East, and is thought to have had only about 5,000 fighters - mostly veterans of Russia's elite regiments and special forces. |
| Since then, it has grown considerably. | Since then, it has grown considerably. |
| "Wagner almost certainly now commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign," the UK Ministry of Defence said in January. | "Wagner almost certainly now commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign," the UK Ministry of Defence said in January. |
| It said the organisation started recruiting in large numbers in 2022 because Russia had trouble finding people for the regular army. | It said the organisation started recruiting in large numbers in 2022 because Russia had trouble finding people for the regular army. |
| About 80% of Wagner's troops in Ukraine have been drawn from prisons, the US National Security Council said at the start of this year. | About 80% of Wagner's troops in Ukraine have been drawn from prisons, the US National Security Council said at the start of this year. |
| Although mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, the Wagner Group registered as a company in 2022 and opened a new headquarters in St Petersburg. | Although mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, the Wagner Group registered as a company in 2022 and opened a new headquarters in St Petersburg. |
| "It is openly recruiting in Russian cities, on billboards, and is being named in Russian media as a patriotic organisation," says Dr Samuel Ramani, of the Royal United Services Institute think tank. | "It is openly recruiting in Russian cities, on billboards, and is being named in Russian media as a patriotic organisation," says Dr Samuel Ramani, of the Royal United Services Institute think tank. |
| US to designate Russia's Wagner as a criminal group | US to designate Russia's Wagner as a criminal group |
| Russia-supporting Wagner mercenary numbers soar | Russia-supporting Wagner mercenary numbers soar |
| What is the Wagner Group doing in Ukraine? | What is the Wagner Group doing in Ukraine? |
| The Wagner Group was heavily involved in Russia's capture of the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine. | The Wagner Group was heavily involved in Russia's capture of the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine. |
| Ukrainian troops say its fighters were sent into attacks in large numbers over open ground, with many killed as a result. | Ukrainian troops say its fighters were sent into attacks in large numbers over open ground, with many killed as a result. |
| At first, the defence ministry did not mention that the Wagner Group was involved in the fighting. However, it later praised its mercenaries for playing a a "courageous and selfless" role. | At first, the defence ministry did not mention that the Wagner Group was involved in the fighting. However, it later praised its mercenaries for playing a a "courageous and selfless" role. |
| Uproar in Serbia over Wagner recruiting for Russia | Uproar in Serbia over Wagner recruiting for Russia |
| How was the Wagner Group started? | How was the Wagner Group started? |
| A BBC investigation into the Wagner Group highlighted the believed involvement of a former Russian army officer, Dmitri Utkin. | A BBC investigation into the Wagner Group highlighted the believed involvement of a former Russian army officer, Dmitri Utkin. |
| A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field commander and to have named the group after his former radio call sign. | A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field commander and to have named the group after his former radio call sign. |
| The current head is Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich businessman nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the Kremlin. | The current head is Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich businessman nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the Kremlin. |
| Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been seen in leaked footage addressing prisoners in Russia | Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been seen in leaked footage addressing prisoners in Russia |
| From Putin's chef to head of Russia's private army | From Putin's chef to head of Russia's private army |
| "The Wagner Group's first operation was helping Russia annex Crimea in 2014," says Tracey German, professor of conflict and security at King's College London. | "The Wagner Group's first operation was helping Russia annex Crimea in 2014," says Tracey German, professor of conflict and security at King's College London. |
| In the weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it is thought Wagner carried out "false flag" attacks to give the Kremlin a pretext for invading. | In the weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it is thought Wagner carried out "false flag" attacks to give the Kremlin a pretext for invading. |
| How has Wagner clashed with Russia's military commanders? | How has Wagner clashed with Russia's military commanders? |
| In recent months, Prigozhin repeatedly accused Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the head of the army in Ukraine, Valery Gerasimov, of incompetence and of deliberately undersupplying Wagner units fighting in Ukraine. | |
| The Russian defence ministry had issued an order for companies like Wagner to sign contracts to be formally co-opted into the regular Russian forces by the end of June. | |
| The Wagner Group was not named in the announcement, but the move is seen as an attempt by the government to gain more control over it. | The Wagner Group was not named in the announcement, but the move is seen as an attempt by the government to gain more control over it. |
| Prigozhin issued a furious statement declaring his forces would boycott the contracts. | Prigozhin issued a furious statement declaring his forces would boycott the contracts. |
| The confrontation came to a head on 23 June when Prigozhin accused top Russian defence officials of having bombed Wagner troops in Ukraine, resulting in a large number of deaths. He gave no details, but a day later his troops went on to seize control of the military headquarters in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and proceeded to make good on a threat to march on Moscow to remove the military leadership. | |
| At one point, Wagner troops were said to be getting closer to Moscow, without encountering any resistance, as President Putin ordered security to be tightened across the capital and elsewhere. | |
| However, as the dramatic escalation appeared to be heading towards possible confrontation, Prigozhin called off his troops and announced he had agreed to leave Russia, following mediation by the Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko. | |
| The deal, the Kremlin later confirmed, included a pledge to stop the prosecution of the Wagner chief and the troops participating in what Moscow called a mutiny. | |
| Wagner 'promised ammunition' after retreat threat | Wagner 'promised ammunition' after retreat threat |
| Russia moves to take direct control of Wagner Group | Russia moves to take direct control of Wagner Group |
| Where else is the Wagner Group operating? | Where else is the Wagner Group operating? |
| Since 2015, Wagner Group mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields. | Since 2015, Wagner Group mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields. |
| There are also Wagner Group mercenaries in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar. | There are also Wagner Group mercenaries in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar. |
| The Central African Republic (CAR) has invited the Wagner Group to guard diamond mines, and it is thought to be guarding gold mines in Sudan. | The Central African Republic (CAR) has invited the Wagner Group to guard diamond mines, and it is thought to be guarding gold mines in Sudan. |
| Wagner members have been operating in Syria | Wagner members have been operating in Syria |
| The government of Mali, in West Africa, is using the Wagner Group against Islamic militant groups. | The government of Mali, in West Africa, is using the Wagner Group against Islamic militant groups. |
| Prigozhin is thought to make money from these Wagner Group operations. The US Treasury says he uses its presence to enrich mining companies, which he owns, and it has placed them under sanctions. | Prigozhin is thought to make money from these Wagner Group operations. The US Treasury says he uses its presence to enrich mining companies, which he owns, and it has placed them under sanctions. |
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| Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group | Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group |
| Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group | Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group |
| What crimes is the Wagner Group alleged to have committed? | What crimes is the Wagner Group alleged to have committed? |
| In January, a former commander claimed asylum in Norway after deserting from the mercenary outfit. He claims to have witnessed war crimes in Ukraine. | In January, a former commander claimed asylum in Norway after deserting from the mercenary outfit. He claims to have witnessed war crimes in Ukraine. |
| Three Wagner Group mercenaries are alleged by Ukrainian prosecutors to have killed and tortured civilians near Kyiv in April 2022, alongside regular Russian troops. | Three Wagner Group mercenaries are alleged by Ukrainian prosecutors to have killed and tortured civilians near Kyiv in April 2022, alongside regular Russian troops. |
| German intelligence says Wagner mercenaries may also have massacred civilians in Bucha in March 2022. | German intelligence says Wagner mercenaries may also have massacred civilians in Bucha in March 2022. |
| The United Nations and the French government have accused Wagner members of committing rapes and robberies against civilians in the Central African Republic. | The United Nations and the French government have accused Wagner members of committing rapes and robberies against civilians in the Central African Republic. |
| In 2020, the United States military accused Wagner mercenaries of having planted landmines and other improvised explosive devices in and around the Libyan capital, Tripoli. | In 2020, the United States military accused Wagner mercenaries of having planted landmines and other improvised explosive devices in and around the Libyan capital, Tripoli. |