The Russian mercenary Wagner Group has long turned into a widely influential network that also pursues economic activities, particularly in Africa. At the same time, it’s known to always prioritize Russia’s — read, the Kremlin’s — interests.
When the group’s boss, the Russian multimillionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin, sought an open showdown with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in June 2023, he died in a mysterious plane crash soon afterwards.
Since then, the Wagner Group has moved even deeper into Russia’s state structures.
Russia’s unofficial vicarious agent
«For Russia, the Wagner Group is absolutely essential because it complements official diplomatic channels,» Hager Ali, a researcher at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies in Hamburg, told DW.
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