"Its activities in Africa are quite similar to those of other #PMCs, namely destabilising countries and exploiting resources — a kind of combination of adventure capitalism and covert operations for the benefit of Russia’s geopolitical interests. Then, when the #WarInUkraine started and #Russia faced the same problem that the US had in Iraq and Afghanistan, #Putin turned to #Wagner to supply soldiers."

#IlyaMatveev

https://links.org.au/russian-socialist-ilya-matveev-prigozhins-coup-attempt-has-exposed-putins-vulnerability

#Prigozhin #RussiaUkraineWar #WagnerGroup #Ukraine

#Mercenaries out of control: #Putin tries to legalize 30 Russian #paramilitary companies | International | EL PAÍS English #PMCs

https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-07-04/mercenaries-out-of-control-putin-tries-to-legalize-30-russian-paramilitary-companies.html

Sarah Katharina Stein stellt klar: "Kurz zur Gruppe #Wagner, die in #Russland putscht:
Wagner sind keine Söldner. #Söldner ist eine feststehende Kategorie des humanitären Völkerrechts (Art. 47 ZP I). Wagner sind #PMCs (private military company). #PMC's können immer dann eingesetzt werden, wenn ein nationaler oder internationaler Konsens zur Entsendung des Militärs – aus finanziellen oder politischen Gründen – nicht zu erreichen ist."

“But does ‘sovereignty’ come at the expense of a uniquely Wagnerian form of exploitation? Yes and no. #Wagner is the logical conclusion to Western trends in the privatization of warfare, with Russian characteristics. That Russian #PMCs are in Africa makes sense: the continent is a critical market for everyone in the industry. That PMCs market their services to countries in conflict should be self-evident, not part of some Kremlin ‘playbook’.”

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/04/11/are-russian-mercenaries-bad-for-the-central-african-republic/

➡️ #PMC #Wagner received a shipment of weapons from #NorthKorea, reports Reuters

"We can confirm that North Korea has completed the initial delivery of weapons to #Wagner, which paid for the equipment. Last month, North Korea delivered infantry weapons and missiles to #Russia for use by #PMCs," a senior #US official was quoted as saying.

At the same time, according to the #UnitedStates, the weapons supplied by the #DPRK to #Russia will not change the dynamics of hostilities in #Ukraine.