Wagner
July 9th 2023
Who are the Wagner Group Mercenaries?
They are a Russian paramilitary organization that operates beyond the law in Russia, where private military companies are officially forbidden. But because it operates in support of Russian interests, it receives military equipment from the Russian Ministry of Defence, and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been a long-time ally of Vladimir Putin. The Wagner Group is truly an evil force with a capacity for horrific savagery — including the executions of deserters, rape, torture, and murder of prisoners and civilians.
The Wagner mercenaries have taken part in conflicts around the world, including the civil wars in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, and Mali, often fighting on the side of forces aligned with the Russian government. Wagner has played a significant role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for which it recruited 40,000 prison inmates from Russia for frontline combat.
The Wagner Rebellion:
As an unofficial arm of the Kremlin’s armed forces, the Wagner Group has been among Putin’s most dependable -- yet expendable soldiers. They were thrown into the most brutal meat-grinding battles of this war around Bakhmut and suffered massive losses.
Over the past several weeks, the Wagner Group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had been openly and brazenly criticizing the Russian Ministry of Defense for not only its handling of the war but the whole basis upon which it was launched. Then, on June 23, over the course of a little more than 24 hours, Prigozhin announced his troops would leave their positions on the front in Ukraine and head toward Moscow on a “justice march.”
Within hours, Wagner fighters had crossed into Russia and occupied the city of Rostov-on-Don, facing no opposition. After reportedly shooting down several Russian helicopters and airplanes and coming within a few hundred kilometers of Moscow, Prigozhin suddenly announced that his convoys would turn around and retreat to their field camps. At this writing, it is still unclear as to what precipitated the retreat and ultimately Prigozhin's exile to Belarus.
Why was this rebellion significant? Many believe Prigozhin succeeded in weakening Putin's grip on power and exposing severe weaknesses in Russia's Ministry of Defence, but he will also be remembered for exposing the lies on which Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was based.
Throwing down the gauntlet, Prigozhin dared to declare publicly that Putin’s rationale for attacking Ukraine was based on lies. Not only was the pretext for the aggression contrived (de-Nazification of Ukraine, NATO expansion, protecting Russian speakers in Ukraine) but the very areas and people in eastern Ukraine that the Kremlin claimed to be saving have ended up in an even worse situation suffering “harsh treatment at the hands of their protectors” as you will see in the following diary accounts of brother Andrey.
It is too early to tell how this will impact the war in Ukraine, but our hearts and prayers, and actions are focused on the countless thousands of people in eastern and southern Ukraine who are suffering so much and need our support. THANK YOU for working alongside us as we continue to bring hope and help to Ukrainians. Please continue to pray for peace.
Lloyd Cenaiko
They are a Russian paramilitary organization that operates beyond the law in Russia, where private military companies are officially forbidden. But because it operates in support of Russian interests, it receives military equipment from the Russian Ministry of Defence, and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been a long-time ally of Vladimir Putin. The Wagner Group is truly an evil force with a capacity for horrific savagery — including the executions of deserters, rape, torture, and murder of prisoners and civilians.
The Wagner mercenaries have taken part in conflicts around the world, including the civil wars in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, and Mali, often fighting on the side of forces aligned with the Russian government. Wagner has played a significant role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for which it recruited 40,000 prison inmates from Russia for frontline combat.
The Wagner Rebellion:
As an unofficial arm of the Kremlin’s armed forces, the Wagner Group has been among Putin’s most dependable -- yet expendable soldiers. They were thrown into the most brutal meat-grinding battles of this war around Bakhmut and suffered massive losses.
Over the past several weeks, the Wagner Group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had been openly and brazenly criticizing the Russian Ministry of Defense for not only its handling of the war but the whole basis upon which it was launched. Then, on June 23, over the course of a little more than 24 hours, Prigozhin announced his troops would leave their positions on the front in Ukraine and head toward Moscow on a “justice march.”
Within hours, Wagner fighters had crossed into Russia and occupied the city of Rostov-on-Don, facing no opposition. After reportedly shooting down several Russian helicopters and airplanes and coming within a few hundred kilometers of Moscow, Prigozhin suddenly announced that his convoys would turn around and retreat to their field camps. At this writing, it is still unclear as to what precipitated the retreat and ultimately Prigozhin's exile to Belarus.
Why was this rebellion significant? Many believe Prigozhin succeeded in weakening Putin's grip on power and exposing severe weaknesses in Russia's Ministry of Defence, but he will also be remembered for exposing the lies on which Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was based.
Throwing down the gauntlet, Prigozhin dared to declare publicly that Putin’s rationale for attacking Ukraine was based on lies. Not only was the pretext for the aggression contrived (de-Nazification of Ukraine, NATO expansion, protecting Russian speakers in Ukraine) but the very areas and people in eastern Ukraine that the Kremlin claimed to be saving have ended up in an even worse situation suffering “harsh treatment at the hands of their protectors” as you will see in the following diary accounts of brother Andrey.
It is too early to tell how this will impact the war in Ukraine, but our hearts and prayers, and actions are focused on the countless thousands of people in eastern and southern Ukraine who are suffering so much and need our support. THANK YOU for working alongside us as we continue to bring hope and help to Ukrainians. Please continue to pray for peace.
Lloyd Cenaiko
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