Reports of a “shadow army” in Russia have been circulating for some time. Now mercenaries from the Wagner group are said to be in eastern Ukraine. The British government estimates how many more could come.
According to British government reports, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group are being deployed in eastern Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense announced on Twitter on Monday evening that it is estimated that more than 1,000 mercenaries could be sent to Ukraine for combat operations, including leaders of the organization. Reports of the group’s existence first surfaced at the start of the 2014 war in eastern Ukraine.
“Due to heavy casualties and a largely blocked invasion” in Ukraine, “Russia was most likely forced to redeploy its Wagner personnel to Ukraine at the expense of operations in Africa and Syria,” the UK MoD said.
Moscow denies connections
Russia’s “shadow army” is associated with crisis regions such as Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic and, most recently, Mali. Moscow denies any connection to her. The mercenaries are accused of serious human rights abuses, including torture and targeted killings.
In mid-March, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russia had drawn up lists of 40,000 fighters from the Syrian army and allied militias who were ready to be deployed in Ukraine.
Russia announced on Friday that it intends to focus on the “liberation of Donbass” in the Ukraine war. The government in Kyiv therefore fears that the situation in Mariupol and in the east of the country will deteriorate. According to Western officials, Russian troops will meet “the best equipped and trained Ukrainian forces” there.
