what is the wagner group in russia

The Wagner Group is a Russian state-funded paramilitary organization that is composed of mercenaries and has been described as a de facto private army of Russian President Vladimir Putins former close ally Yevgeny Prigozhin. It is officially known as PMC Wagner, which stands for Wagner Private Military Company. The group was founded in 2014 by Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin ("Wagner") . Although private military companies are technically illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a "private military company". The group has been involved in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Mali, the Central African Republic, and other countries. Wagner has been accused of atrocities, including mass murder and rape, across Africa and alongside Russian forces in Syria. The group is believed to be composed of military veterans or individuals with military experience from Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, and Moldova. The Russian government has been taking steps to rein in the group, and the Russian Defense Ministry has said that "volunteer formations" in Ukraine must sign contracts with it by the end of September 2023.