What is the Wagner Group, Russia’s mercenary organisation?


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What is the Wagner Group?

The Wagner Group is a Russian private military organization (PMC) with alleged close ties to the Kremlin. It has been accused of fighting in various conflicts, including in Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and in parts of Africa.

Wagner Group's Activities

Reports suggest over 400 Wagner mercenaries were sent to Kyiv to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although this hasn't been confirmed. The group's mercenaries have been accused of serious human rights abuses, including torture, rape, and extrajudicial killings.

Wagner Group's Role in the Ukraine Conflict

Ukraine has long accused the Wagner Group of operating within its borders. American officials have also indicated evidence of Wagner's involvement in the ongoing war with Russia.

Link to the Russian State

The Wagner Group's relationship to the Russian state remains unclear, though it's widely believed to have close ties to the Kremlin. The group's operations raise concerns about Russia's involvement in global conflicts and its disregard for international law.

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RUSSIA MASSED around 190,000 troops on Ukraine’s border before it invaded. But there may be other, more shadowy Russian forces fighting there. According to a report in the Times on February 28th, more than 400 mercenaries belonging to Russia’s Wagner Group have been sent to Kyiv to assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president. American officials say they have seen some indication of Wagner’s involvement in the war. Those reports have not been confirmed, but Wagner’s presence would not be a surprise. For years Ukraine has accused the private military organisation, which appears to have close ties to the Kremlin, of fighting in Luhansk and Donetsk, the disputed parts of eastern Ukraine. The mercenaries, who have also reportedly fought in both northern and sub-Saharan Africa, have been accused of torture, rape and extrajudicial killings. What is the Wagner Group, and how is it linked to the Russian state?

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