Ukraine war: Wagner group withdraws, leaving Belarus as new base
The Russian mercenary group, Wagner, announced on Monday that it is now operating solely in Africa and Belarus. The group's fighters are no longer involved in the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials urged Belarusian authorities on Sunday to withdraw "substantial forces" from their shared border, claiming these forces include both Belarusian troops and former Wagner Group mercenaries.
In a statement, the Wagner Group denied any affiliation with the Russian National Guard, the Russian Ministry of Defense, or any other Russian government entity, according to a Reuters report.
The Wagner Group played a significant role in Russia's early efforts in the war in Ukraine, particularly in the fierce battles for Bakhmut, which they ultimately captured in May 2023.
Yevgeny Prigojin, the founder of the Wagner Group, led a brief mutiny against Russian military leadership in June 2023, accusing them of corruption, incompetence, and misinformation.
Yevgeny Prigojin and other top Wagner Group leaders died in a plane crash on August 23, 2023, under mysterious circumstances.
Some of those involved in the mutiny, as well as ordinary Wagner Group fighters, have relocated to Belarus at the invitation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
