According to the Pentagon, the Wagner Group is no longer “substantially” involved in the fighting in Ukraine
“At this point in time we do not see any significant involvement of Wagner forces in combat operations in Ukraine,” Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said at a news conference Thursday. The United States understands that “the majority” of Wagner Group fighters are still in Russian-held Ukrainian territories, he said.
In late June, the Wagner paramilitary group, which played a key role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, attempted a lightning revolt to overthrow the Russian military leadership. Evgueni Prigojine, head of the group, had argued that his uprising was aimed not at overthrowing power but at saving Wagner from dismantling by the Russian general staff, whom he accuses of incompetence in the conflict in Ukraine.
The mutiny ended on the evening of June 24 with an agreement that provided for Mr. Prigojine’s departure to Belarus. Its fighters were offered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the regular troops, settle in Belarus or return to civilian life.
On Wednesday, the Russian army announced that it had received more than 2,000 items of military equipment, 2,500 tons of ammunition and 20,000 small arms from the Wagner group. Mr. Prigoyine had agreed to hand over the arming of his men to regular Russian troops after he gave up carrying out his armed insurrection.
Since the failure of this rebellion, rumors that have not been confirmed in connection with the opacity of Russian power have also reported reshuffles within the military leadership, particularly with regard to General Sergei Surovikin, who has long been an ally of Wagner.