WHERE WILL THE WAGNER GROUP GO FROM HERE?


By bblouin
The leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin is making an announcement claiming that the Moscow army killed a large number of his mercenaries.

They’ve been called a private military company, mercenaries, and a paramilitary extension of Russia. Somewhere in the middle of it all, it's likely the most accurate way to describe the Wagner Group. Since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, PMC Wagner, also known as Wagner Private Military Company, has very much been a part of topical international conflict for some time. The Wagner Group Russia division expanded throughout the world after its operations in 2014. However, it’s the actions that came in 2022 and 2023 that continue to make headlines in America. Now, as its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead after the Wagner Group coup took place, the world is in a weirder place somehow because of it. Related read: Wagner Group Leader Prigozhin Dies in Plane Crash North of Moscow

What is the Wagner Group?

Known as PMC Wagner, the Wagner Group is a military company that has assisted in conflicts on behalf of Russia for the last decade. Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin founded this trained, organized group of fighters. Since then, the group has operated in the Central African Republic, Syria, Mali, and other countries. The private Russian army was created with ties to neo-Nazis, although it ironically claims to be fighting them on behalf of Russia. Yet, whether they are invading Eastern Europe or causing chaos in Africa, the organization is ready, capable, and willing to do Putin's dirty work. At least they were. The Wagner Group of the past may be coming to an end as the fighters have lost leaders and staged coups against Russia. Its future is less than clear but future conflicts surrounding the group's fate seem almost certain. Suggested read: Should We Be Worried About Russian Military Strength?

Disputes Lead to a Coup and Now a Possible Assassination

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was willing to kill and die for his home country of Russia. Running in the same circles as Putin himself, the two had a positive relationship following the fall of the Soviet Union. However, things would change drastically in 2023. Remember, the Russia Wagner Group isn’t an untrained assembly of volunteers running around the woods with guns yelling out macho clichés. These are well-trained, well-organized militants who are more than capable on the battlefield. The group went into Ukraine to keep the peace, organize troops in Russia’s formal military, and hold objectives. But things deteriorated, and the situation would ultimately anger Prigozhin. It doesn’t matter how willing or ready you are to die, nobody enjoys being cannon fodder or putting themselves in a situation with an unclear objective. This is the sentiment that Prigozhin began to find around him and his men, while calling out the Kremlin in the process. But on top of it all, the Wagner Group rebellion would stem from allegations of a Russian military attack on Wagner personnel. This would result in the following:

  • The Wagner Group began attacking Russian forces.
  • They marched into Moscow and shot down a Russian aircraft.
  • The coup stalled after Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko helped talk Prigozhin into calling it off.
  • This short bout of hostility embarrassed the Kremlin and Putin.

Overall, this was never going to go over well and the eventual outcome of the coup is yet to be seen. This is because months later on August 23, 2023, a suspected assassination of Prigozhin would take place. As of this writing, details are continuing to unfold. However, there are signs that point to a deliberate attack on the Wagner Group leader. Field experts are currently alleging that responsibility lies with Putin. As a result, the PMC Wagner is at a crossroads, with some vowing to retaliate.

How Powerful is the Wagner Group?

The Wagner Group has an estimated 50,000 fighters. You can find PMC Wagner assisting in Russian-related conflicts across Europe and Africa. How that goes post-fallout is anyone’s guess. Either way, the trained organization continues to influence multiple campaigns. They are one of the focal points of modern warfare. For this reason, the U.S. military is sure to keep track of the group as conflicts evolve. Read next: Ukraine and Russia WWI Treaty Casts Large Shadow Amid Current Crisis


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