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The Telegraph‘s podcast “Ukraine: The Latest” discussed the ongoing impact of the Wagner Group following the death of its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. Alicia Kearns, a British Conservative MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs committee, emphasized the importance of not letting the Wagner Group’s activities fade into obscurity. She pointed out that despite Prigozhin’s death, the group, akin to a commercial business driven by profit, continues to function as an extensive network with political and military operations spanning multiple continents.
Kearns highlighted the group’s resilience and likened it to an organized crime group, which often continues its operations under new leadership even after the loss of a key figure. She asserted that the Wagner Group’s primary aim is to profit, exploiting natural resources in Africa and furthering the Kremlin’s objectives while enriching itself.
On the group’s relationship with the Kremlin, Kearns described the initial close ties, with Wagner operatives being transported to Syria on Russian military aircraft and equipped with Russian military gear. However, she noted that such entities could become uncontrollable and potentially turn against their creators, as evidenced by Prigozhin’s own confrontations with Moscow. Kearns concluded that while the Wagner Group operates in line with the Kremlin’s wishes, it has evolved into an independent organized crime group.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/07/the-wagner-group-evolves-despite-the-death-of-prigozhin/
