Status: 03/29/2022 09:15
According to the British government, Russia is using Wagner group mercenaries in eastern Ukraine. The reason: the faltering army offensive. The West accuses the “shadow army” of serious human rights violations.
According to British government reports, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group are stationed in eastern Ukraine. According to the British Ministry of Defense, more than 1,000 mercenaries could be sent to Ukraine for combat operations, including leaders of the organization. Reports of the group’s existence first surfaced at the start of the 2014 war in eastern Ukraine.
“Due to heavy casualties and a largely blocked invasion” in Ukraine, “Russia was likely forced to redeploy its Wagner personnel to Ukraine at the expense of operations in Africa and Syria,” the UK Defense Ministry said.
Torture and targeted killings
The US and EU believe the Wagner force is being used as a replacement for the Russian military. The Russian government denies any connection with the mercenary force. The EU imposed sanctions on the organization and its founder Dmitri Utkin in December 2021.
Wagner’s troops are considered Russia’s “shadow army” and are associated with crisis regions such as Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic and, more recently, Mali. Russia denies any connection with it. The mercenaries are accused of serious human rights abuses, including torture and targeted killings.
Expected heavy fight
Russia announced on Friday that it intends to focus on “liberating Donbass” in the Ukraine war. The Kiev government therefore fears that the situation in Mariupol and the east of the country will deteriorate. According to Western officials, however, Russian troops are facing “the best equipped and trained Ukrainian forces”.