Wagner Group

The Wagner Group (Russian: Группа Вагнера), or ChVK Wagner (ChVK is the Russian abbreviation for Private Military Company),[1] It is a Russian paramilitary organization. It is described as a private military company, a network of mercenaries, or a de facto private army of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PMC Wagner
Active2014–present
IdeologyRussian nationalism
Neo-Nazism (allegedly)
Allegiance Donetsk People's Republic (2014–2015)
Luhansk People's Republic (2014–2015)
Syria (2015–present)
Russia (2022–2023)
FounderDmitry Utkin
LeadersYevgeny Prigozhin
HeadquartersSaint Petersburg, Russia
Battles and war(s)War in Donbas
Syrian civil war
South Sudanese Civil War
Central African Republic Civil War
Second Libyan Civil War
Sudanese Revolution
Venezuelan presidential crisis
Insurgency in Cabo Delgado
Mali War
Russian invasion of Ukraine
2023 Sudan conflict
2023 Wagner Group rebellion

The Wagner Group came to prominence during the War in Donbas and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially in the Battle of Bakhmut.[2][3] It helped separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics from 2014 to 2015. Its contractors have apparently taken part in various conflicts around the world—including the civil wars in Syria,[4] Libya,[5] the Central African Republic (CAR),[6] Mali,[7] and Sudan.[8] It usually fights on the side of forces aligned with the Russian government.

In 2023, the Wagner Group launched a rebellion against the Russian Ministry of Defense. The leader of the company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation had attacked his forces and that Wagner was going to unleash revenge upon the Russian government. This was followed by a battle in Rostov-on-Don.[9][10]

References
  1. "What is the Wagner Group, Russia's mercenary organisation?". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. CGTN. "Ukraine denies Russian Wagner's claim on full control of Bakhmut". news.cgtn.com. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  3. Kiley, Sam (2023-05-22). "Wagner forces claim to have taken Bakhmut. But Ukraine's forces could still exact a heavy toll". CNN. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  4. Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (2018-05-24). "How a 4-Hour Battle Between Russian Mercenaries and U.S. Commandos Unfolded in Syria". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  5. "Libya: Russia's Wagner Group Set Landmines Near Tripoli". Human Rights Watch. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  6. "Russian mercenaries exploit African country as they fight in Ukraine". NBC News. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  7. Burke, Jason (2023-05-20). "Russian mercenaries behind slaughter of 500 in Mali village, UN report finds". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  8. Arvanitidis, Nima Elbagir,Gianluca Mezzofiore,Tamara Qiblawi,Barbara (2023-04-20). "Exclusive: Evidence emerges of Russia's Wagner arming militia leader battling Sudan's army". CNN. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  9. "Wagner chief vows to topple Russian military leaders". BBC News. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  10. "Wagner PMC 'armed coup' attempt in Russia: all the latest news". RT International. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
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