Wagner is and is not

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 16 Jul 2023 by Alex Teddy

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On July 15 Ukraine said that Wagner is in Belarus. Belarus claims that Wagner troops are training the Belarusian Army. It was reported by Belarusian oppositionists on July 14 that 60 Wagner vehicles arrived in Belarus. But there were 25,000 Wagner troops in June 2023. The June Mutiny led to the agreement by Wagner's leader, Prigozhin, to move to Belarus. The rest of Wagner were offered to go there, too, or sign contracts with the Russian Army or return to civilian life. Prigozhin's location is unknown but Belarus says he is not in their country. On July 14 Putin said that Wagner still exists but that it does not exist legally. He stated that Prigozhin refused to have his men sign contracts with the army. The Russian government has been eager to emphasize that Wagner has handed over most of its tanks and artillery to the army. Wagner existed in a grey zone since its foundation in 2014. Mercenaries are illegal under Russian law, and yet this private military company existed openly. The Russian government finds Wagner fighters very useful. It seems to want to detach them from their supremo.