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What is Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries in Ukraine? What is Russia's Wagner group of mercenaries and why did it march on Moscow?
(2 days later)
The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group has called off a rebellion and agreed to leave the country. The Russian government appears to be disbanding the Wagner mercenary force.
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. The defence ministry says it will claim the group's heavy weapons and military hardware.
Barely 36 hours into this confrontation, though, Prigozhin agreed to a deal that would see him move to Belarus. The move follows a rebellion by Wagner commander Yevgeny Prigozhin, who marched on Moscow with an estimated 5,000 fighters, but stopped 200km short of the capital.
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. What is the Wagner group and how big is it?
It remains unclear whether Prigozhin will remain in charge of any mercenaries and - if so - where they will be based. The Wagner group (or PMC Wagner) was first identified in 2014, when it started backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. It is thought to have helped Russia annex Crimea in the same year.
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. Wagner forces have also been operating in Africa and the Middle East.
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. Before the war in Ukraine, Wagner was thought to have had about 5,000 fighters - mostly veterans of Russia's elite regiments and special forces.
What is Wagner Group and who is fighting for it? However, its numbers have since grown considerably.
The Wagner Group (officially called PMC Wagner) was first identified in 2014, when it was backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. When announcing his "march for justice" on Moscow, Yevgeny Prigozhin said that he commanded 25,000 troops.
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. Although mercenary forces are technically illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a company in 2022.
Since then, it has grown considerably. The US said it would designate the group a "transnational criminal organisation" in January 2023.
"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. What has Wagner done in Ukraine?
It said the organisation started recruiting in large numbers in 2022 because Russia had trouble finding people for the regular army. Wagner was heavily involved in the capture of the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, for Russia.
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. Ukrainian troops say its fighters were sent into attacks in large numbers over open ground, which resulted in many deaths.
Although mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, the Wagner Group registered as a company in 2022 and opened a new headquarters in St Petersburg. Yevgeny Prigozhin with mercenaries in Ukraine
"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. At first, the defence ministry did not acknowledge that the Wagner Group was involved in the fighting, which prompted the first of Yevgeny Prigozhin's complaints against Russia's military leaders.
US to designate Russia's Wagner as a criminal group Mr Prigozhin threatened to pull Wagner troops out of Bakhmut, saying they were being deprived of ammunition.
Russia-supporting Wagner mercenary numbers soar In the weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it is thought Wagner carried out so-called "false flag" attacks, to give the Kremlin a pretext for invading. The term refers to political or military acts carried out but blamed on opponents.
What is the Wagner Group doing in Ukraine? The group also policed regular Russian troops in Ukraine, according to Dr Marina Miron, from Kings College, London: "It was used by the Kremlin to enforce discipline on the ground".
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.
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 RussiaUproar in Serbia over Wagner recruiting for Russia
How was the Wagner Group started? When was Wagner started and how did it get its name?
A BBC investigation into the Wagner Group highlighted the believed involvement of a former Russian army officer, Dmitri Utkin. Yevgeny Prigozhin claims he founded Wagner in 2014. A wealthy businessman and convicted criminal, he is nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the Kremlin.
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 2021 BBC investigation highlighted the suspected involvement of former Russian army officer Dmitri Utkin.
The current head is Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich businessman nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the Kremlin. 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.
Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been seen in leaked footage addressing prisoners in Russia Mr Prigozhin boosted Wagner's numbers in 2022 by recruiting Russian prisoners.
From Putin's chef to head of Russia's private army About 80% of its troops in Ukraine were drawn from there, according to the US National Security Council.
"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. From Putin's chef to rebel in chief
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 did Wagner clash with Russia's military commanders?
How has Wagner clashed with Russia's military commanders? Mr Prigozhin has repeatedly accused defence minister Sergei Shoigu and the head of armed forces in Ukraine, Valery Gerasimov, of incompetence.
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. He also refused an order from the Russian defence ministry to sign a contract which would have put Wagner directly under its control.
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. On 23 June, Mr Prigozhin accused top Russian defence officials of having bombed Wagner troops in Ukraine.
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. A day later, his troops seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and began their march on Moscow, with the stated aim of removing the military leadership.
Prigozhin issued a furious statement declaring his forces would boycott the contracts. This video can not be played
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. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
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. Watch: Tracking Wagner's day of rebellion... in 82 seconds
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. Watch: Tracking Wagner's day of rebellion... in 82 seconds
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. However, Mr Prigozhin stopped the advance after negotiations with the Kremlin which were mediated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Wagner 'promised ammunition' after retreat threat He agreed to go into exile in Belarus, along with Wagner troops which remain loyal to him.
Russia moves to take direct control of Wagner Group Other personnel will be absorbed into the regular Russian army.
Where else is the Wagner Group operating? Criminal charges against those involved in the uprising have been dropped.
Since 2015, Wagner Group mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields. The bitter personal rivalries that led to a day of rebellion
There are also Wagner Group mercenaries in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar. What will Putin do next? And other key questions
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. Where else does Wagner operate?
Since 2015, Wagner mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields.
It is also has troops in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.
The Central African Republic (CAR) uses Wagner to guard diamond mines. It is also believed to protect gold mines in Sudan.
Wagner members have been operating in SyriaWagner 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, uses the 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. It is not yet clear who will take command of these troops.
Prigozhin was thought to have made money from operations abroad.
The US Treasury says he used Wagner's presence to enrich mining companies which he owns. These have been placed under sanctions.
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Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner GroupRussian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group
Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner GroupRussian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group
What crimes is the Wagner Group alleged to have committed? What crimes are Wagner troops 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. Ukrainian prosecutors say three Wagner group mercenaries 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 troops 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 UN 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.