What is a mercenary?
What is a mercenary? Mercenaries are people who are hired to fight for money. They are not part of the official military. The Wagner Group is a private army of mercenaries that has been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine.
The Wagner Group, also known as PMC Wagner, is a Russian paramilitary organization that was established in 2014. At its peak, the group had approximately 50,000 mercenary recruits, including many ex-prisoners. In addition to Ukraine, the Wagner Group has been active on various battlefields in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, operating as a private military contractor.
Recently, the leader of Russia’s Wagner Private Military Company led a short-lived mutiny against the country’s defense establishment. This caused Russia to have an internal security problem that had never happened before.
Background
The leader of the Wagner Group, Prigozhin, made serious accusations against the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Russia, saying they were corrupt and incapable. Wagner Group also shared a video accusing the defense leaders of ordering attacks on them. To express their concerns, Wagner forces started a march towards Moscow.
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, strongly condemned the mutiny, calling it an act of treason. However, he faced a difficult situation because of the past alliance with Wagner and its effectiveness on the battlefield.
Mr. Prigozhin was once a trusted associate and received support from Mr. Putin to establish Wagner. The company has established a strong presence in unstable regions of Africa, offering protection to governments, mining operations, corporations, and more. This has enabled the Kremlin to extend its influence in these areas without deploying conventional Russian troops.
Putin, with the assistance of the President of Belarus, engaged in negotiations with Prigozhin. As a result of the negotiation, Prigozhin agreed to retreat and relocate to Belarus.
Implications
With the disbandment of the Wagner Group, Russia now faces a challenge as armed and trained Russian individuals are dispersed across different regions, especially Africa and the Middle East. There is a possibility that the group may reappear under a new name. However, it could lead to complications if these individuals are withdrawn without addressing their agreements and obligations with local governments.
The mutiny has also revealed divisions within Russia’s security and military forces. The ability of Wagner troops to stage an armed uprising and make progress towards Moscow before ultimately retreating highlights weaknesses in Russia’s security system. This situation may have lasting effects and could potentially inspire similar actions in the future.