although best-known—are not representative of the network’s wider spectrum of operations globally. Relative to other countries, the purpose, scale and nature of Wagner’s involvement in Ukraine are unique.[1]
6. Given the scope of our inquiry, this report focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on the network’s military activities and the actions of ‘Wagner fighters’. The network’s military deployments raise questions over how hostile and competitor states may use commercial entities for offensive and deniable military operations in future and the implications for UK interests, the conduct of war and the rules-based international order (paragraphs 76–91)
Growth of the network
7. The Wagner Network was set up in 2014 by individuals close to the Russian military establishment,[2] with the reported involvement of former GRU[3] leader Dmitry Utkin.[4] In September 2022, after many years’ obfuscation, including efforts to sue individuals linking him to the organisation,[5] Yevgeny Prigozhin admitted that he founded Wagner.[6] The network’s fighters began their first known military activities in late 2014 in Ukraine, after Russia invaded the east of the country.[7] At this point, the idea of a “more structured” and “proxy actor” for the Russian state was attractive, due to its limited responsibilities (relative to the Russian army) and its “deniability in case of failure or of excesses”.[8] The Dossier Center, an investigative NGO, has said of Wagner fighters that:
- ↑ Wagner fighters have directly served Russia’s (aggressive) military goals in Ukraine, unlike in other countries where its engagement has benefited the Russian state more indirectly. Furthermore, in other countries, the network appears to have been present with the consent of the host government. The nature and scale of Wagner’s engagement in other countries also differs from the large-scale, conventional fighting force it has provided in Ukraine
- ↑ The Wagner Network was pre-dated by Slavonic Corps, which was registered in 2012 by Russian ex-servicemen and had links to Moran Security Group. Dossier Center (WGN0009) paras 18–21. Christo Grozev of Bellingcat noted that Wagner’s predecessor had acted as a for-profit fighting organisation in Syria in 2013 but “it did not act on behalf of or as a proxy of the Russian Government”. It was in 2014 that “what we know currently as the Wagner private military company was organised”.Q9.
- ↑ The GRU is Russia’s military intelligence service
- ↑ Dmitry Utkin is a former GRU leader who many, including the United States Government, have previously described as Wagner’s founder. It is likely that this is at least partly because Utkin started using ‘Wagner’ as his personal callsign in 2014. However, the investigative organisation Bellingcat has said “there is ample data suggesting that his role was more of a field commander, and that the “Wagner Group” mercenaries are integrated in an overall chain of command under central Kremlin control with its military intelligence (GU/GRU) apparatus”. Similarly, a former Wagner fighter told us that the first detachments of Wagner mercenaries were created in 2014 under the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defence, and that Dmitry Utkin commanded one of these detachments. See Anonymous (WGN0026); US Department of the Treasury, ‘Treasury Designates Individuals and Entities Involved in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine’, 20 June 2017 (accessed 16 July 2023); Mr D White (Risk/Crisis Management Advisor at Freelance) (WGN0001); CSIS, ‘Band of Brothers: The Wagner Group and the Russian State | Center for Strategic and International Studies’, 21 September 2020 (accessed 16 July 2023); Dossier Center (WGN0009) para 21; Bellingcat, ‘Putin Chef’s Kisses of Death: Russia’s Shadow Army’s State-Run Structure Exposed’, 14 August 2020 (accessed 16 July 2023
- ↑ For example, see Henry Jackson Society (WGN0020) para 7; Matrix Chambers, ‘Defamation claim against Bellingcat founder struck out’ (accessed 16 July 2023)
- ↑ Originally in a post on Russia social media site, VKontakte. For analysis, see Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin admits founding Wagner mercenary group, The Guardian, 26 September 2022; Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin admits he created the mercenary Wagner Group, POLITICO, 26 September 2022.
- ↑ Q9 [Christo Grozev].
- ↑ Q9 [Christo Grozev].
