The Wagner Group is a private military company (PMC) based in Russia. It is believed to be owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The group has been active in various conflicts around the world, including in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya. The exact nature of the group’s activities and its relationship with the Russian government is not entirely clear, but it is believed to operate with the support and approval of the Russian government. The group has been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes, and its activities have been a source of controversy and concern for many countries.
**Far-right ties**
There have been reports and allegations that some members of the Wagner Group have far-right and neo-Nazi sympathies. For example, there have been claims that some members of the group have been photographed with Nazi symbols, and that some have been known to express far-right views. In addition, there have been reports that the group has connections to far-right groups in Russia and other countries. However, it’s important to note that these allegations are not confirmed and the exact nature of the group’s ideology and affiliations is not entirely clear. It’s also worth noting that the group’s activities and reputation are primarily associated with their involvement in conflicts and military operations, rather than any specific political ideology.
That being said, there have been reports of individuals with far-right or neo-Nazi backgrounds fighting as part of the Wagner Group in Ukraine and Syria. For example, in 2017, a German man with neo-Nazi ties was reportedly killed while fighting as part of the group in Syria. In addition, there have been allegations that the group has connections to far-right groups in Russia and other countries. However, it’s important to emphasize that these allegations are not confirmed and the exact nature of the group’s ideology and affiliations is not entirely clear.
**Short bio**
St Petersburg-based Fontanka.ru first [wrote](https://www.fontanka.ru/2013/11/14/060/) about Wagner’s private military company in October 2015. According to its information, in 2013, Vadim Gusev and Evgeny Sidorov – Russian managers of PMC Moran Security Group, specializing in the protection of merchant ships from pirates, registered in Hong Kong PMC “Slavyansky Korps” and recruited 267 employees under a temporary labour agreement for “protection of oil fields and pipelines” in Syria. Instead, the Slavic Corps personnel were forced to take part in the civil war in that country. After fighting with “Army of Islam” units near the town of al-Sukhnah, the “Slavic Corps” returned to Russia, where its employees, like the company’s owners, were arrested for mercenarism. One of the employees hired by Slavyansky Korps [was](https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-paramilitary-mercenaries-emerge-from-the-shadows-syria-ukraine/28180321.html) Dmitri Utkin, who until 2013 had served in the formations of the Special Forces of the Russian State General Staff, and who at the time had the rank of lieutenant colonel. After that – in 2014 – information about Utkin began to emerge from the Luhansk people’s republic. Journalists stated that in the same context as Utkin, the name “Wagner Group” was first mentioned at the same time, derived from his call sign (“Wagner”), which Utkin chose, according to The Times, due to his fascination with the Third Reich.
The idea to create a freelance army on a private basis – and entrust its operational and logistical aspect to Yevgeny Prigozhin – came from the high-ranking officers of the Russian Ministry of Defense after a presentation in 2010 by Eeben Barlow, founder of South Africa-based PMC Executive Outcomes. The creation of a team of “retired” security officers, formally retired, but trained and experienced in combat operations, had been under discussion for about a year at the time.
The Wagner Group is backed by the Russian leadership, so it has access to heavy weaponry and is able to interact with regular Russian troops.
**Conflicts**
The Wagner Group, a private military company based in Russia, has been involved in several conflicts around the world, primarily in a military capacity. Some of the more notable conflicts and operations that the group has been linked to include:
1. Ukraine: The Wagner Group has been accused of fighting alongside Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014.
2. Syria: The group has been involved in the Syrian Civil War on the side of the Syrian government, providing military support and training to government forces.
3. Libya: The Wagner Group has been accused of supporting the Libyan National Army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, in its efforts to take control of the country.
4. Sudan: The group has been accused of providing military support to the government of Sudan during the country’s civil war.
5. Central African Republic: The Wagner Group has reportedly been involved in providing security services to the government of the Central African Republic.
It’s important to note that the exact nature and extent of the group’s involvement in these conflicts is not always clear, and the group has been accused of operating in a secretive and opaque manner.
