What is Russia's Wagner mercenary group and where is its leader, Prigozhin?

The head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin is back in Russia,
according to the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Prigozhin had agreed with the Kremlin that he would go into exile in Belarus, after leading
Wagner troops in a failed mutiny in June.

What is the Wagner group and how big is it?

Wagner was first identified in 2014, when it started backing pro-Russian separatist forces in
eastern Ukraine. It is thought to have helped Russia annex Crimea in the same year.

Wagner forces have also been active in Africa and the Middle East.

Before the war in Ukraine, it is thought it had about 5,000 fighters - mostly veterans of
Russia's elite regiments and special forces.

However, its numbers grew considerably after that. When announcing his "march for
justice" on Moscow, Yevgeny Prigozhin said that he commanded 25,000 troops.

Although mercenary forces are technically illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a "private
military company" in 2022.

The US said it would designate the group a "transnational criminal organisation" in January
2023.

What has Wagner done in Ukraine?

Wagner was heavily involved in the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut for
Russia.

Ukrainian troops say its fighters were sent into attacks in large numbers over open ground,
which resulted in many deaths.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Yevgeny Prigozhin with mercenaries in Ukraine

Prigozhin threatened to pull Wagner troops out of Bakhmut, saying that Russia's top
military officials were depriving his force of ammunition.

In the weeks before Russia's invasion, it is thought Wagner carried out so-called "false
flag" attacks in Ukraine, to give the Kremlin a pretext for invading. These are attacks
carried out by one side which are blamed on its opponent.

 Uproar in Serbia over Wagner recruiting for Russia

When was Wagner started and how did it get its name?
Yevgeny Prigozhin claims he founded Wagner in 2014. A wealthy businessman and
convicted criminal, he is nicknamed "Putin's chef" because he provided catering for the
Kremlin.

A 2021 BBC investigation highlighted the suspected involvement of former Russian army
officer Dmitri Utkin.

A veteran of Russia's wars in Chechnya, he is thought to have been Wagner's first field
commander, and to have named the group after his former radio call sign.

Prigozhin boosted Wagner's numbers in 2022 by recruiting Russian prisoners.

About 80% of its troops in Ukraine came from there, according to the US National Security
Council.

 From Putin's chef to rebel in chief

 Mercenary chief seen recruiting Russian convicts

Why did Wagner clash with Russia's military

commanders and where is Prigozhin?
Prigozhin has repeatedly accused Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, and the chief of
staff of Russia's armed forces, Valery Gerasimov, of incompetence.

He also refused an order from the defence ministry to sign a contract to put Wagner under
its control.

On 23 June, Prigozhin said top Russian defence officials had bombed Wagner troops in
Ukraine.

A day later, about 5,000 Wagner troops seized control of the southern Russian city of
Rostov-on-Don and began to advance on Moscow, with the stated aim of removing the
military leadership.

Media caption,

Watch: Tracking Wagner's day of rebellion... in 82 seconds

However, Prigozhin stopped the rebellion after negotiations with the Kremlin, which were
mediated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Wagner fighters were told they could join Russia's regular army or go into exile to Belarus,
with Prigozhin.

There is evidence that accommodation is being built for Wagner fighters in southern
Belarus.

Despite the deal, Prigozhin's whereabouts since the mutiny have been a mystery.

However, on 6 July, Mr Lukashenko said Prigozhin was not in Belarus but in St Petersburg,
in Russia. The BBC has not been able to verify this claim.

 Satellite images show activity at Belarus base

 Prigozhin's soldiers rage while others cry conspiracy
 Wagner still recruiting despite mutiny, BBC finds

Where else does Wagner operate?

Since 2015, Wagner mercenaries have been in Syria, fighting alongside pro-government
forces and guarding oilfields.

It also has troops in Libya, supporting the forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.

The Central African Republic (CAR) uses Wagner to guard diamond mine. The group is
also thought to protect gold mines in Sudan.

Image source, @RSOTM telegram group

Image caption,
Wagner members have been operating in Syria

The government of Mali, in West Africa, uses the group against Islamic militant groups.

It is not yet clear who will now take command of these troops.

How does Wagner make money?

According to President Putin, Wagner was given 86.26bn roubles ($1bn) from the defence
ministry and state budget between May 2022 and May 2023 to pay wages.

He said authorities would investigate how the money paid to Wagner was spent.

Mr Prigozhin has also made money from Wagner's presence in other foreign countries,
according to the US Treasury.

His companies are said to have profited from gold and diamond mines in the CAR and
Sudan.
US authorities also say that an energy company linked to Mr Prigozhin was offered a 25%
stake in all oil or gas fields in Syria which Wagner won back from Isis control.

The US has announced sanctions against several of his companies

 What interests do Russian mercenaries have in Sudan?

 US sanctions boss of Wagner group in Mali

Media caption,

Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group

What crimes are Wagner troops accused of?

Ukrainian prosecutors say three Wagner mercenaries killed and tortured civilians near Kyiv
in April 2022, alongside regular Russian troops.

German intelligence says Wagner troops may also have massacred civilians in Bucha in
March 2022.

The UN and the French government have accused Wagner troops of raping and robbing
civilians in the Central African Republic.

In 2020, the United States military accused Wagner mercenaries of planting landmines and
other improvised explosive devices in and around the Libyan capital, Tripoli.