What is the Wagner Group?
The Wagner Group has been linked to conflicts around the world. Andrei Goryanov explains who they are, where they have been and how aligned they are with President Putin.
The Wagner group has been linked to military conflicts around the world, but who are they?
The Russian mercenary organisation is believed to have been founded nearly 10 years ago, but ramped up recruitment in recent years, particularly since the beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, it now commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine alone, but is said to have links to other parts of the world, particularly in many African nations.
麻豆社 Russia鈥檚 Andrei Goryanov has been based in Riga, Latvia since the 麻豆社 Russian Bureau relocated after the invasion of Ukraine. He explains who the Wagner Group are, where they have been and how aligned they are with President Putin and his government.
Presenter: Claire Graham
Producer: Owen McFadden
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 24 Jun 2023 10:32GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
- Sat 24 Jun 2023 18:32GMT麻豆社 World Service West and Central Africa
- Sun 25 Jun 2023 03:32GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
- Sun 25 Jun 2023 10:32GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
- Sun 25 Jun 2023 23:32GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & 麻豆社 Afghan Radio
- Mon 26 Jun 2023 02:32GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa
Podcast
-
![]()
The Explanation
Where the world is explained. Making sense of the big stories - looking behind the spin
