Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

Reuters: Ex-Wagner fighters training in Chechnya

by Rachel Amran November 7, 2023 3:16 AM 2 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ex-Wagner fighters are currently receiving training from special forces under Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Reuters reported on Nov. 6.

Kadyrov posted a message on Telegram that a larger group of ex-Wagner troops were undergoing intensive training with his Akhmat special forces.

"I am glad that today the ranks of the famous [Akhmat] unit have been joined by fighters who have excellent combat experience and have proven themselves as brave and efficient warriors," Kadyrov said. "I am confident that in the upcoming battles they will fully live up to their reputation."

The Chechen dictator also published what appears to be a music video showing soldiers dressed in combat, including some in Wagner insignia and masks over their faces.  

The message did not specify the number of Wagner fighters involved in the training.

Earlier this week, various Russian media outlets reported that the Wagner Group had allegedly resumed recruiting in the Russian cities of Perm and Novosibirsk as a unit of Rosgvardia, Russia's National Guard. The unit is now possibly headed by Pavel Prigozhin, the son of the deceased founder of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The Kyiv Independent cannot currently verify the information.

The fate of Russia's most notorious mercenary group remained uncertain following Wagner's rebellion against the Kremlin in June and a plane crash that killed Prigozhin and several other senior commanders two months later.

Some Wagner fighters were allowed to leave for Belarus or Africa, while others were offered contracts under the Russian Defense Ministry. Rosgvardia is not under the ministry's jurisdiction and answers directly to the presidential office.

Ukraine war latest: 128th brigade says Russian strike killed 19 of its soldiers; Attack on Odesa injures 8
Key developments on Nov. 6: * Ukraine’s 128th brigade confirms 19 of its soldiers were killed in Russian strike * Drone strikes damage Odesa port infrastructure, six architectural sites, injures 8; Kherson Oblast attacked with ‘record high’ number of aerial bombs * Navy reports Russian ship da…


Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

5:50 AM

Crimean Tatar editor goes missing in occupied Crimea.

Ediye Muslimova, the editor-in-chief of a Crimean Tatar children's magazine, disappeared in Russian-occupied Crimea on Nov. 21. Local sources say she was forced into a vehicle by three men and is being detained by the Russian FSB.
7:59 PM

Muslim who fled Russia on his new life in Ukraine.

Ali Charinskiy is an activist and professional martial artist from the Republic of Dagestan who advocated for the rights of Muslims. The Kyiv Independent spent a day with Charinskiy in his new home, a southern Ukrainian city of Odesa.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.