Veteran’s Corner

Tom Krabbenhoft

The Wagner Group which is a Russian private military company (or mercenaries) appears to have reached the end of its usefulness. I’ve wrote about this group in the past several times. Most notably when they attacked US troops in Syria in 2018, almost setting off an international powder keg. The group has had the most successful military operations in Ukraine.

The last few months there has been a flurry of words between the Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin (referred to as YP) and Moscows military leaders.

YP is one fascinating character. Utilizing luck, timing, hard work and treachery he rose to prominence. Born in 61, he was a petty criminal. He spent most of his 20s in jail. The death of the old Soviet Union saw the birth of the Russia we know. The emerging Russia presented opportunities. He started in fast food, and bought into an emerging supermarket chain. He then jumped into the hospitality business. His restaurants are some of the best in Russia. Pictures of him serving food to Prince Charles and George Bush and many famous others are out there.

Vladimir Putin became a customer, confidant and friend. YP became a powerful Oligarch with the help of many Russian government contracts.

YP formed the Wagner Group in 2014. The purpose was to assist Russia in the annexation of Crimea. The use of Mercenaries by wealthy countries is nothing new, more on this in part 2.

No doubt YP had Putins utmost trust as the group served him well. The group has been in conflicts in Syria, several African countries and Ukraine. Organizations like this can operate outside of conventional norms. It gives leaders a plausible deniability factor. These groups are cheaper than regular military units.

The group draws members everywhere from Russian military elites to prisoners. The pay is better than the Russian military and I’ll speculate lacks the BS of normal traditional military. Prisoners joining can have their records cleared and be released early by joining the Wagner Group. Russia has a draft so everyone serves. Prisoners joining the group have a two year minimum military background. Russian prison life is not soft like here, these are hard-core survivors. The Elite ex-military and prisoner mix works well, where here it never would.

The group has created a cash problem in Russia. If you are killed serving in the group $60,000 cash is delivered to whomever you designate. Those receiving the cash are encouraged not to deposit it for tax purposes. So much cash has been paid out its causing a cash crisis in Russia.

The group is funded by several Russian sources. Interestingly a Chinese company provides its intelligence and satellite photos.

Next week: continue on with the Wagner Group, its Ukraine role. YP and the groups fall, rebellion and fallout.