Russian losses in Syria — BBC identifies 543 soldiers, Wagner mercenaries who died since 2015
Of the total number, 346 were employees of the Wagner company, a private mercenary group also deployed in Russia's war in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Wagner Group
UK targets Russian-backed mercenaries, defense industry in major sanctions package
The U.K. government on Nov. 7 announced its largest package of sanctions against Russia since May 2023, focusing on the Russian defense industry and mercenary groups.
Two Russian nationals face charges for distributing Wagner Group flyers in Krakow
The Krakow District Court has begun the trial of two Russian nationals, Andrei G. and Aleksei T., who were allegedly hired by the Wagner Group to distribute flyers in Krakow, Poland encouraging people to join the organization.
Kyiv denies media reports about supplying drones to Mali rebels
The statement comes after an article by the French outlet Le Monde claimed that Tuareg fighters from the anti-government CSP movement are using Ukrainian drones against the military and Wagner mercenaries.
Former Wagner base in Russia's Krasnodar Krai reportedly on fire
A fire broke out at the Wagner Group's former military base in Molkino in Russia's Krasnodar Krai on Sept. 21, Russian independent media outlet Meduza reported, citing Wagner-linked Telegram channel.
‘A wave of lawlessness’ – returning from war in Ukraine, Russian convicts commit crimes at home
Editor’s note: This story contains graphic descriptions. Several months after Russian Sergei Kozlov, an assault fighter of the infamous Wagner Group, returned home from the war in Ukraine, he violently killed his 18-year-old partner Daria, who was pregnant with his child. She was beaten to death, suffering a traumatic
Wagner veteran soldiers presumed killed in July battles in Mali, Reuters reports
Reuters identified 23 missing Wagner soldiers and two others who were captured by Tuareg fighters. Some of them took part in the occupation of the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. Others served in Libya and Syria.
Ukraine war latest: Russia launches largest aerial attack on Ukraine so far
Key developments on Aug. 26: * Russia launches over 200 missiles, drones in largest attack on Ukraine since start of invasion * Negotiations with Ukraine have now lost their relevance, Kremlin says * Russian authorities claim Saratov Oblast attacked by drones * Wagner Group claims to no longer be fighting in Ukraine * Ukraine has
Wagner Group claims to no longer be fighting in Ukraine
Wagner mercenaries are operating only in Belarus and Africa, and are not fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine, the Wagner Group claimed in a statement on Telegram on Aug. 26.
Wagner Group greatly reduced 1 year after Prigozhin's death, UK Defense Ministry reports
"In comparison to its peak personnel count of around 50,000 in 2023, Wagner now likely maintains around 5,000 total personnel across its residual deployments in Belarus and Africa," the ministry said.
Mali provided no evidence of Ukraine's ties to Tuareg rebels, foreign ministry says
Mali's decision to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine is "regrettable," as Mali's transitional government has not provided evidence that proves Ukraine's involvement in an alleged incident between Wagner mercenaries and Tuareg rebels, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Aug. 5.
Mali breaks diplomatic ties with Ukraine
The transitional government of Mali is severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine over its alleged support of rebel coalitions, government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga announced on Aug. 4.
Ukrainian special services train Mali rebels to operate drones, media reports
"We have links with the Ukrainians, but just as we have with everyone else, the French, Americans, and others," said Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the pro-independence coalition.
Mali rebels claim they killed 84 Wagner mercenaries during recent battles
In a post on X, the Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad, said it killed 84 Wagner fighters and 47 Malian troops.
Wagner confirms deaths of soldiers in Mali, blames battle defeat on 'sandstorm'
According to the Telegram message, Wagner troops and their Malian army comrades fought off the initial assault by Tuareg rebels, but a sandstorm allowed to the rebels to regroup and lay an ambush, resulting in heavy losses for the coalition of Russian mercenaries and Malian government soldiers.
Rebels in Mali claim to have killed and injured dozens of soldiers, Russian mercenaries
Mali’s army and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group lost dozens in killed and wounded in a battle with rebels in the country’s north, a spokesman for the rebels claimed on July 27.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian S-400, S-300 systems in occupied Crimea, General Staff says
Key developments on June 10: * Ukraine hit Russian S-400, S-300 systems in occupied Crimea overnight, General Staff says * Ukraine refutes Kadyrov's claims about captured Sumy Oblast border village * Russia uses submarines to patrol Black Sea after naval losses, military says * Nearly 20,000 Wagner mercenaries died taking Bakhmut, media investigation
Nearly 20,000 Wagner mercenaries died taking Bakhmut, media investigation confirms
BBC Russia and Mediazona obtained documents shortly after the death of Wagner Group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin in August 2023, detailing the posthumous payments to relatives of those killed fighting in Ukraine between January 2022 and August 2023.
Media: Russia, Sudan close to signing 25-year agreement on military cooperation, port access
Russia and Ukraine have played a complex role in Sudan's civil war, with the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group previously backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while Ukrainian commandos reportedly arrived in Sudan in August 2023 to support the government.
US announces new sanctions against 2 mining companies in Central African Republic over links to Wagner
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller commented on the sanctions, saying that the companies were "advancing the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group's security operations and its illicit mining endeavors in Africa."
Military intelligence: Russia planning disinformation campaign about Ukrainian fighters in Sudan
Russia plans to sow disinformation in African media that accuses Ukraine of using Western-supplied arms to fight in Sudan, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on April 17.
WSJ: Ukrainian commandos fight Russian influence in Sudan
Small Ukrainian army teams took part in hostilities in Sudan, helping the country's leader fend off Wagner Group-backed rebel forces, the Wall Street Journal reported on March 6, citing Ukrainian and Sudanese military officials.
Ex-Wagner commander who fled to Norway has asylum request rejected
Andrey Medvedev's lawyer told Reuters that his asylum request was rejected because the Norwegian government did not consider him to have been an official member of the Russian armed forces.
UK Defense Ministry: Russian National Guard likely to deploy ex-Wagner volunteer units to Ukraine, Africa
The incorporation of Wagner units into Rosgvardia indicates that the Russian state's control over the private military group has increased, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.
Investigation: Baltic-registered crypto firms service payments for Russian private army, allow sanctions evasion
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Jan. 30, 2024, to reflect the changes made in the original investigative piece by Vsquare after the publication. The previous version of the story claimed that Akshin Dzhangirov received about 285,600 euros in income from Sberbank in 2021. Known for its
Prigozhin's death latest in a series of unsolved murders in Putin's Russia. What's next?
The death of an opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin is not something new in history. More than 20 critics and opponents of Putin have been murdered or died in suspicious circumstances since 2000. However, the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group and once a
Wagner boss Prigozhin is dead. Here’s what it means for Africa
Just two days before a plane carrying Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin along with other top commanders of the Kremlin-linked mercenary group crashed over Russia, a video appeared online in which Prigozhin claimed to be somewhere on the African continent. In the video, published by the Russian "Razgruzka Vagnera" Telegram channel
Russian media: Private jet crashes in Russia, warlord Prigozhin listed among passengers
A private plane has reportedly crashed in Russia's Tver Oblast, with the Wagner Group's boss Yevgeny Prigozhin listed as one of the passengers, the state-owned news agency TASS reported on Aug. 23.
The Guardian: Convicts returning to Russia after fighting for Wagner strike fear in Russian women
The Guardian reported on Aug. 19 that convicts returning to Russia as free men after fighting for the Wagner mercenary group in Ukraine have led Russian women to fear increased threats of murder, rape, and domestic violence in the country.
Andreas Umland: How Russian ultra-nationalists undermine Putin’s narratives
During his recent mutiny, Russian mercenary leader and leading imperialist mouthpiece Yevgeny Prigozhin questioned the Kremlin’s propaganda line to justify Russia's war on Ukraine. His critique follows an earlier pattern of illuminating statements by Russian ultra-nationalists about Putin's regime. Known until recently only among Eastern Europe experts, Yevgeny Prigozhin
Russia after Wagner revolt: Will Putin stay afloat or face more turmoil?
The rebellion organized by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group in June is seen by many analysts as a sign of weakness and fragility of Vladimir Putin’s regime. First, several thousand armed mercenaries managed to march for hundreds of kilometers from Rostov to the vicinity of Moscow, and no one
Shoigu breaks silence on Wagner rebellion
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made his first comment on the Wagner rebellion, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on July 3. The minister highlighted the military's loyalty in the face of "provocations" and "destabilization attempts."
It’s the last day of our birthday campaign.
It would mean a lot to us if you become our member today. With your support, we can do even more good journalism.
Show us support this birthday month
(Updated: )
Most popular
Editors' Picks
Fall of Aleppo deals blow to Russia's Middle East clout, may indirectly strengthen Ukraine's hand
‘Destroying us little by little:’ Ukrainian troops worried about fate of Kursk operation
Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertain
