Wagner Group

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a think tank based in Washington, DC. issued a report on Monday that advised the U.S. to develop stronger trade relationships with African countries in order to become less dependent on Communist China for vital minerals.

A Never Trumper who served in the Trump Department of Homeland Security is claiming that former President Donald Trump would assemble his own mercenary force if re-elected, according to a report.

Vladimir Putin ordered one of the top commanders of the Wagner mercenary group, Andrei Troshev, to take charge of “volunteer units” in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Army spokesman Capt. Ilya Yevlash said on Wednesday that about five hundred mercenaries from the infamous Wagner Group have returned to fight for Russia on the battlefield, a month after Wagner’s founders Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin were reportedly killed in a highly suspicious plane crash near Moscow.

The Pentagon said on Thursday it will “reposition” troops and equipment in Niger, and withdraw some “non-essential personnel,” due to “an abundance of caution” as the security situation deteriorates. 

Several Russian journalists on Monday published photos of Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the commander known as “General Armageddon” for his aggressive tactics who has not been seen in public since Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his ill-fated mutiny in June.

Social media linked to Russia’s Wagner Group is circulating a video in which Yevgeny Prigozhin discusses rumors of his impending death.

Russian state media outlets, citing alleged sources close to the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), reported that the head of that organization Yevgeny Prigozhin was buried in a small, private service in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, preventing hoards of supporters from organizing a mass gathering.

Russian officials on Monday appointed Gen. Andrey Averyanov, head of covert offensive operations for Russian military intelligence, to supervise the mercenary Wagner Group’s valuable operations in Africa following the reported death of its founders, Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, in a plane crash last week.

Russian authorities confirmed that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s body was among those killed in a plane crash outside of Moscow.

Vladimir Putin signed a decree requiring paramilitary fighters in “volunteer formations” to swear an oath of allegiance to the Russian flag.

Cuban diaspora media outlets, citing military and political experts, suggested this week that agreements between the communist Castro regime and its comrades in the government of Belarus could result in Cuban special forces taking on a significant role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Chinese state propaganda outlet Global Times condemned President Joe Biden and other Western leaders for implying that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin orchestrated a plane crash believed to have killed Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) leader Yevgeny Prigozhin this week.

The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed Western suggestions Wagner Group warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin had been murdered on its orders in a plane crash as an “absolute lie” while adding confirmation of his death is dependent on test results.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied any involvement in the plane crash north of Moscow on Wednesday that reportedly killed Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, telling reporters “everyone realizes” who the true culprit is.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday made his first comments on the death of mercenary leader Yevgeny Priogzhin.

Satellite images from Belarus suggest that organizers had begun to dismantle a large tent camp believed to house Wagner PMC fighters.

The reported potential death of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin on Wednesday concludes a curious post-mutiny career during which Prigozhin appeared to find some measure of acceptance in Moscow even though he led a column of mercenaries to within a few miles of it.

Russia says a private jet experienced an ‘incident’, killing all aboard including Yevgeny Prigozhin. Wagner PMC claims it was shot down.

The founder and leader of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) Yevgeny Prigozhin resurfaced on Monday in what appeared to be his first video production since a failed attempt to oust the leaders of the Russian Defense Ministry in June, urging “real heroes” to join the mercenary organization.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Sweden, his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

Lithuania decided to temporarily close two of its six checkpoints with Belarus amid growing tensions with its eastern neighbor.

Two Russian citizens arrested on allegations of spreading propaganda for Russia´s Wagner mercenary group, Poland said Monday.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said on Sunday there is a “realistic possibility” that Russia is no longer funding the mercenary Wagner Group.

Rhissa Ag Boula, a former leader in Niger’s Tuareg uprisings three decades ago, announced on Wednesday he is forming a Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) to oppose the ruling junta and restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power.

Niger’s junta asked the Wagner group for help as the deadline nears for it to free the ousted president or face military intervention.

President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, deposed by a military coup d’etat last week and believed to be trapped in his presidential residence, declared himself a “hostage” and in a Washington Post column published on Thursday asked for American intervention on his behalf.

A message claiming to be from the head of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), Yevgeny Prigozhin, published on social media on Monday suggested that the mercenary organization would continue to remain active only in Africa for the time being – mere days after another claiming to be Prigozhin praised the coup against a pro-Western president in Niger.

Protesters in Niger marched through the capital on Sunday in support of the military coup before attacking the French embassy.

Mercenaries belonging to the Russian-linked Wagner group in Belarus have moved close to the border with Poland, the prime minister said.

In a veiled threat, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said members of the Wagner mercenary group would like to pay a visit to Poland.

Mercenaries launched joint drills with Belarusian military near the border with Poland, a move that prompted Warsaw to redeploy its troops.

A Russian paramilitary group called COSI said in a Sunday post on the messaging platform Telegram that hundreds of “experienced” Wagner Group mercenaries are pouring into the Central African Republic (CAR) to “ensure security” ahead of a July 30 referendum that could give President Faustin-Archange Touadera a third term in office.

Belarus said that instructors from Russia’s Wagner forces were training its troops, following weeks of uncertainty about the group’s future.

Russian strongman Vladimir Putin on Friday pressured members of the federal lawmaking body, the Duma, to pass laws to address the existence of private military companies, a response to the brief attempted uprising by Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin.

A senior Russian lawmaker ominously told reporters on Wednesday that General Sergei Surovikin, a top Russian military leader who has not been seen in public since the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) staged a brief uprising against the Russian armed forces in late June, was “currently resting.”