The threat of an insurrection has subsided in Russia, but the world is now increasingly aware of the powerful Wagner group. Better known as PMC Wagner, this paramilitary organization has supported Russia in several wars and nations.
It is one of the leading forces behind Russia’s foreign invasions and allowed for plausible deniability. Russia never had to take responsibility for any of the atrocities committed by Wagner as it is a private company by registration and is a master at avoiding such complications.
How did this private group of mercenaries grow into power? How did they manage to spread into the world to gain access to significant resources? Read on to learn more about the organization.
How Strong Is the Wagner Group?
According to a statement by the UK Ministry of Defense, Wagner currently commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine. It is a critical component of the Ukraine campaign of Russia. Since Russia had trouble finding people for the regular army in 2022, the organization started recruiting and even recruited from prisons.
Mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, but Wagner registered as a company in 2022. The private military company Wagner Group, under Yevgeny Prigozhin, has risen in power silently in the last decade.
The company has helped Russia take control in many foreign countries while maintaining obscurity. However, the tables turned on Russia just a few days ago as an insurrection was expected in the nation when the Wagner group was ready to take over Moscow.
Could Wagner Overthrow Putin?
The threat of a civil war subsided after Prigozhin reached a deal with the government of Russia, and the Wagner troops turned back from the city. However, the last few hours of the army marching towards Moscow were nerve-wracking.
If the deal was never struck and Prigozhin went ahead with his plan of rebelling against Putin, how would the showdown go? Would the Kremlin win or the Wagner group?
The fact that Prigozhin called off the coup shows that the man knows exactly how dangerous the situation was for him. Putin had promised to deal with rebels with a heavy hand and that treason would not be tolerated.
The Wagner group still challenged his power and took over two cities before marching towards Moscow. While Putin’s authority is still in place, the holes in his reign are suddenly more visible.
Top Feats of the Wagner Group
The Wagner group is often invited by countries who want to hire muscle power and men for security or to stabilize a weak government and prevent the threat of a coup. The organization, however, trades in resources and gold or diamond mines for the favor.
Countries like Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Libya, Venezuela, and others have seen the Wagner group employ the same strategies. The company owns the mines of many of these states and has an equally powerful hold on the others.
Below are listed some of the top feats of the Wagner group.
- The Capture of Bakhmut, Ukraine.
The Wagner Group played a heavy role in capturing the Bakhmut city in Ukraine. Large numbers of fighters are said to have been sent on open ground, which led to many being killed. The group was never mentioned before but was later praised for a “courageous and selfless” role.
- Rights to Gold Mining in Sudan.
The Wagner group entered Sudan in 2017 and provided security and logistic support to President Omar al-Basir. In exchange, the founds of the company, Prigozhin, received exclusive rights to gold mining in Sudan.
The Wagner group currently has stakes in not only Sudan’s gold and uranium reserves but also diamond mines.
- Acquiring Diamond Trading Company in Central African Republic.
The Wagner group arrived in CAR in 2018 to offer protection to the president as well as protect lucrative mines. Wagner has been accused of human rights abuse in CAR, but Russia has denied any involvement, claiming that the organization is working on its own.
According to a report from European Investigative Collaborations and other sources, the PMC has been controlling a diamond trading company in CAR since 2019.
- Achievements in Mali.
Hundreds of Wagner mercenaries were brought in to fight extremism in the Sahel region of Mali. The group now has access to Mali’s uranium, diamond, and gold mines, just like in Sudan. These were considered as a form of payoff.
According to leaked US documents, there is still over a thousand Wagner personnel in Mali, and the organization might use the country as a proxy.
Atrocities Committed by Wagner Group
As the Wagner group has been invited into or invaded many countries, men from the units have engaged in various crimes. The group is accused of abuse of human rights in the Central African Republic. From rape to robberies, the charges are countless.
In 2020, the mercenaries were accused of planting landmines in and around Tripoli, the capital of Libya. According to German intelligence, the organization led to the massacring of civilians in Bucha in March 2022.
Since Wagner’s arrival in 2021, violence against civilians has drastically increased in Mali. Wagner often enters countries by offering security and asking for resources in return from resource-rich territories. They pursue Russian interests in the countries and add new threats to the civilians. The organization has a long history of war crimes and violence against civilians.
All in all, the Wagner group is one of the big bad powers behind Russia’s commanding presence. Standing up against Putin made the world aware of the company more than before.
Comment down below if you know some more interesting facts about the violent Wagner group.
Recent Comments