Think you’ve heard it all about covert military operations? Believe it or not, there’s a lot more lurking in the shadows.
The Wall Street Journal’s documentary, “Shadow Men: Inside Russia’s Secret War Company,” gives us an in-depth look into the Wagner Group.
This Russian private military company (PMC) has transformed from a small mercenary group into an extensive network of operations spanning four continents
What is Wagner and Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?
Wagner Group is a Russian PMC with a knack for maintaining an air of mystery.
It’s more than just a group of mercenaries; it’s a complex web of businesses, covert operations, and political maneuvering. At the heart of Wagner was Yevgeny Prigozhin1, before the fatal plane accident.
How the Wagner Group Operates
We think it’s crucial to understand that Wagner isn’t your regular PMC. Through interviews with insiders and victims, the documentary reveals how the group employs a complicated network of front companies to move resources and finances.
These front companies serve to conceal their actions and establish connections that go right up to Russian government officials.
Wagner’s Origins
The Wagner Group had “humble” beginnings. It started as a small, guns-for-hire operation focused on local conflicts. However, its evolution into a global entity didn’t take long.
Through strategic alliances and covert backing, the group has become a formidable force in international conflicts.
A New Business Model in Syria
Wagner truly stepped up its game in Syria2. They adopted a business model that isn’t just about providing military muscle3. We’re talking about a sprawling network that involves resource extraction, political influence, and even local governance4.
For each oil field captured in Syria, Wagner would be able to exploit 25% of the oil fields income, resulting in millions of funds.
In short, they’ve become a multi-faceted organization with goals far beyond the battlefield5.
Wagner’s Africa Playbook: Guns and Gold
If you thought Wagner was limited to Europe and the Middle East, think again. The group has been significantly active in Africa, engaging in everything from armed conflict to resource extraction6.
Don’t you find it fascinating how a PMC can have a whole playbook for a continent7? Wagner’s operations in Africa focus heavily on resource control, particularly gold.
They provide military services in exchange for mining rights, effectively creating a symbiotic relationship with local governments8.
The War in Ukraine: Wagner Steps Out of the Shadows
The situation in Ukraine brought Wagner into the limelight.
No longer content to operate from the shadows9, the group has become more overt in its actions. This shift signifies a more aggressive stance, with global implications10.
Wagner’s Future
We believe that Wagner will continue to expand and evolve. Their business model is too successful and too intertwined with geopolitical interests for them to fade away.
If anything, the Wall Street Journal’s documentary suggests that we should keep a close eye on this shadowy organization.
References
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/world/europe/prigozhin-wagner-russia-africa.html ↩︎
- https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/wagner-group-syria-profiting-failed-states ↩︎
- https://www.mei.edu/publications/syria-where-conflict-between-wagner-and-russian-government-began ↩︎
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/7/syria-cracked-down-on-wagner-after-mutiny-in-russia-report ↩︎
- https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-fate-of-the-wagner-group-in-syria-libya-and-sudan/ ↩︎
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66614766 ↩︎
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/18/wagner-central-african-republic-touadera/ ↩︎
- https://www.brookings.edu/articles/whats-ahead-for-the-wagner-group-in-africa-and-the-middle-east/ ↩︎
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60947877 ↩︎
- https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-ukraine-war-over-20000-wagner-troops-were-killed-prigozhin/ ↩︎
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