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Image source, Reuters
It's believed that determination are present tens of thousands of mercenaries warring for Russia successful Ukraine with the Wagner Group.
Recently, its troops played a large portion successful the agelong and costly combat to instrumentality the metropolis of Bakhmut from Ukrainian forces.
The Wagner Group describes itself arsenic a "private subject company", but present the Russian authorities seems to beryllium taking steps to rein it in.
What is Wagner Group and who is warring for it?
The Wagner Group (officially called PMC Wagner) was archetypal identified successful 2014, erstwhile it was backing pro-Russian separatist forces successful eastbound Ukraine.
At that clip it was a secretive organisation, operating mostly successful Africa and the Middle East, and is thought to person had lone astir 5,000 fighters - mostly veterans of Russia's elite regiments and peculiar forces.
Since then, it has grown considerably.
"Wagner astir surely present commands 50,000 fighters successful Ukraine and has go a cardinal constituent of the Ukraine campaign," the UK Ministry of Defence said successful January.
It said the organisation started recruiting successful ample numbers successful 2022 due to the fact that Russia had occupation uncovering radical for the regular army.
About 80% of Wagner's troops successful Ukraine person been drawn from prisons, the US National Security Council said astatine the commencement of this year.
Although mercenary forces are amerciable successful Russia, the Wagner Group registered arsenic a institution successful 2022 and opened a caller office successful St Petersburg.
"It is openly recruiting successful Russian cities, connected billboards, and is being named successful Russian media arsenic a patriotic organisation," says Dr Samuel Ramani, of the Royal United Services Institute deliberation tank.
What is the Wagner Group doing successful Ukraine?
The Wagner Group was heavy progressive successful Russia's seizure of the metropolis of Bakhmut, successful eastbound Ukraine.
How was the Wagner Group started?
A BBC probe into the Wagner Group highlighted the believed engagement of a erstwhile Russian service officer, Dmitri Utkin.
A seasoned of Russia's wars successful Chechnya, helium is thought to person been Wagner's archetypal tract commandant and to person named the radical aft his erstwhile vigor telephone sign.
The existent caput is Yevgeny Prigozhin, a affluent businessman nicknamed "Putin's chef" due to the fact that helium provided catering for the Kremlin.
Wagner person Yevgeny Prigozhin has been seen successful leaked footage addressing prisoners successful Russia
"The Wagner Group's archetypal cognition was helping Russia annex Crimea successful 2014," says Tracey German, prof of struggle and information astatine King's College London.
In the weeks earlier Russia's penetration of Ukraine, it is thought Wagner carried retired "false flag" attacks to springiness the Kremlin a pretext for invading.
How has Wagner clashed with Russia's subject commanders?
In caller months, Mr Prigozhin has repeatedly accused Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, and the caput of the service successful Ukraine, Valery Gerasimov, of incompetence and of deliberately undersupplying Wagner units warring successful Ukraine.
The Russian Defence Ministry has present said that "volunteer formations" successful Ukraine indispensable motion contracts with it, by the extremity of June.
The Wagner Group was not named successful the announcement, but the determination is seen arsenic an effort by the authorities to summation much power implicit it.
Mr Prigozhin issued a furious connection declaring his forces would boycott the contracts.
Where other is the Wagner Group operating?
Since 2015, Wagner Group mercenaries person been successful Syria, warring alongside pro-government forces and guarding oilfields.
There are besides Wagner Group mercenaries successful Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has invited the Wagner Group to defender diamond mines, and it is thought to beryllium guarding golden mines successful Sudan.
Image source, @RSOTM telegram group
Image caption,Wagner members person been operating successful Syria
The authorities of Mali, successful West Africa, is utilizing the Wagner Group against Islamic militant groups.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is thought to marque wealth from these Wagner Group operations. The US Treasury says helium uses its beingness to enrich mining companies, which helium owns, and it has placed them nether sanctions.
Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group
What crimes is the Wagner Group alleged to person committed?
In January, a former commandant claimed asylum successful Norway aft deserting from the mercenary outfit. He claims to person witnessed warfare crimes successful Ukraine.
Three Wagner Group mercenaries are alleged by Ukrainian prosecutors to person killed and tortured civilians adjacent Kyiv successful April 2022, alongside regular Russian troops.
German quality says Wagner mercenaries whitethorn besides person massacred civilians successful Bucha successful March 2022.
The United Nations and the French authorities person accused Wagner members of committing rapes and robberies against civilians successful the Central African Republic.
In 2020, the United States subject accused Wagner mercenaries of having planted landmines and different improvised explosive devices successful and astir the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
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