what is the wagner group

The Wagner Group, officially known as PMC Wagner, is a Russian state-funded paramilitary organization composed of mercenaries. It was founded in 2014 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The group has been described as a de facto private army of Prigozhin, and it has been involved in conflicts in Syria, Mali, the Central African Republic, and other countries. The Wagner Group is not ideologically driven, but elements of the group are linked to neo-Nazism and far-right extremism. Although private military companies are technically illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a "private military company" in 2022. The group has been heavily involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where it has backed pro-Russian separatist forces. The Wagner Group has been described as a "brutal" Russian military unit. The group has been keeping a close eye on its leader, Prigozhin, after he threatened a rebellion against Russian leadership over the handling of the war and accused his allies of shelling his troops.