Turn up the Wagner... Russian-hired mercenaries known as 'Wagner' busy across Africa. (Page 1/1)
rinselberg MAR 13, 04:13 PM
"Russian mercenaries have landed in West Africa, pushing Putin’s goals as Kremlin is increasingly isolated"
Danielle Paquette for the Washington Post; March 9, 2022.
https://www.washingtonpost..../mali-russia-wagner/


That was a long report. But this, from Reuters, just a 2-minute read.

"Russian mercenaries expected to grow in Mali post-French exit- U.S. officials"
Idrees Ali for Reuters; February 17, 2022.
https://www.reuters.com/art...russia-idAFL1N2US1RT


"Macron warns of 'predatory' Russian mercenaries in Mali"
France24; February 17, 2022.
https://www.france24.com/en...-mercenaries-in-mali

Includes map of Wagner's footprints across 14 different nations on the African continent, from 2016 to date.



French President Emmanuel Macron said the Russian mercenary group Wagner was "arriving in Mali with predatory intentions." Photo credit: Ludovic MARIN AFP. February 17, 2022.
williegoat MAR 13, 04:26 PM
When did Macron hire Ringo?

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 03-13-2022).]

rinselberg MAR 14, 02:12 PM
"Inside Wagnergate: Ukraine’s Brazen Sting Operation to Snare Russian Mercenaries"

Christo Grozev, with contributions from Aric Toler, Pieter van Huis, and Yordan Tsalov, for Bellingcat; November 17, 2021.
https://www.bellingcat.com/...russian-mercenaries/


quote
On 29 July 2020, Belarusian state media announced that the country’s security services had arrested 33 fighters from the Wagner private military contractor. These men were, according to the report, part of a group of more than 200 fighters present in Belarus to destabilise the country in the run-up to its Presidential elections in early August. All of the men, whose names and dates of birth were published in the initial 29 July report, were Russian nationals while a handful also had dual citizenship with Ukraine and Belarus.

Although Belarus initially accused Russia of meddling in the August election, the two countries appeared to reconcile with the return of the mercenaries to Russia and further cooperation in military and economic spheres.

It later transpired that the appearance of the Russian mercenaries had nothing to do with the Belarusian elections or Russian meddling, rather it was part of a Ukrainian sting operation that had been cut short. The political fallout from these events continues to be felt over a year later, drawing in the last two presidents of Ukraine and much of the country’s security, military, and intelligence services.


The beginning of a LONG report in Bellingcat.

This goes back well before Russia's recently inaugurated "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine.

I'm not suggesting that anyone try to read it. I'm just posting it as an online "curio." It's at the intersection of these Russia-linked mercenaries known as "Wagner", and Ukraine.

[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 03-14-2022).]

rinselberg MAR 15, 06:31 PM
"Ukraine war: What is the Wagner Group of 'secret' Russian mercenaries?"

quote
Sky News explains why we know about the Wagner Group and its activities in the Ukraine invasion.


"Blockbuster" reporting from Sky News reporter Alexa (Alexa, tell me about the Wagner Group} Phillips. March 10, 2022.
https://news.sky.com/story/...mercenaries-12562034
rinselberg MAR 16, 12:36 AM
MSNBC's Joy Reid gets the lowdown on all things Wagner from Foreign Policy's national security reporter Amy Mackinnon and MSNBC counter-terrorism and intelligence analyst Malcolm Nance. Aired on March 15, 2022. Video segment is 8 minutes "and change."

YouTube
https://youtu.be/xqofEeMzQww