Morale of Wagner mercenaries plummets: an ominous sign of Putin’s war

As Russian forces struggle with supply and morale problems and allegations of war crimes, similar crises among Wagner mercenaries, considered Putin’s private army, are an ominous sign of Russia’s war in Ukraine, an analysis says. CNN.

Photo by Wagner group mercenaries in Ukraine Twitter

Wagner forces have enjoyed worldwide popularity over the years. But the unraveling of Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, and the announcement of “partial demobilization” of much-needed troops has caused more than 200,000 Russian citizens to flee to neighboring countries, cracking these “elite forces.”

Putin’s personal army

Since its creation in 2014, Wagner’s popularity has grown. Considered by analysts to be a private military enterprise of the Kremlin, its forces have been involved in fighting not only in Syria but also in several African countries, including Sudan, Libya, Mozambique, Mali and the republic, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014. of Central Africa.

Recognized as a valuable and reliable force in Russia, Wagner private soldiers supported Moscow’s global interests and military resources, while mercenaries supported Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. Their involvement was often at key points where Russia wanted to control lucrative resources, from Sudanese gold to Syrian oil.

Recruiting videos show modern equipment, heavy weapons and even helicopters, which resemble US special forces.

“If Russia had not used mercenary groups on such a large scale, I am convinced that there would be no question about the successes the Russian army has achieved so far,” Marat Kapitulin, a former commander, told CNN Wagner in 1995. The official in charge of mercenaries in Syria said that the use of mercenaries has intensified.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told CNN that Wagner’s troops had been deployed.The most difficult and most important tasks” From the Ukraine, plays a key role in the Russian victories at Mariupol and Kherson.

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The Kremlin has repeatedly denied that Wagner had anything to do with the Russian state, but in fact, there is video evidence of the group’s mercenary fighters on the front line in Ukraine.

The backbone of these groups is always composed of experienced people who have been through many wars. They are more important and have significant experience than the army. The army consists of young soldiers who are forced to sign a contract, they have no experienceCapitoline told CNN.

Kapitulin, a former officer in the Soviet Union, returned to military life as a Wagner recruit after Russia’s 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine, then left the group in 2019 after fighting in Syria in 2015.

He said many key Wagner staffers, like him, may have previously fought in both Ukraine and Syria and gained valuable combat experience.

The Russian army cannot cope with it [în război] No Mercenaries”According to the capitol, adding that there is “A great myth about a powerful Russian army“.

Today, at least 5,000 mercenaries of the Wagner group are operating with Russian forces in Ukraine, Andrii Yusov, a representative of military intelligence who monitored the operation of Wagner troops in Ukraine, told CNN.

The figure was also supported by a French intelligence source who noted that some Wagner fighters had left the African continent to support the group’s efforts in Ukraine.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, the Kremlin increasingly relies on Wagner militias as assault troops.

Wagner is suffering heavy losses in Ukraine, especially among young and inexperienced fighters, unsurprisingly“, a US official announced in September under the protection of anonymity.

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According to the Capitol, a simple equation indicates the engagement of Wagner forces: “Russian Peace to US Dollars“. mercenaries earn up to $5,000 per month. According to Ukrainian sources, Wagner fighters were paid bonuses for destroying Ukrainian tanks or units – all paid in US dollars.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Wagner fighters are also assigned specific units of the front line, operating almost like normal armed units, a major change, given that they usually have unique and limited missions in Ukraine.

Yusov also said that Wagner is increasingly being used to plug holes in the Russian front line. This was also confirmed by a senior US defense official, who said that Wagner, unlike the Chechen militia, is deployed on different front lines, such as those concentrated around the Russian offensive targeting the town of Bahmut in the Donetsk region.

This has led to significant logistical challenges, with the need to supply Wagner’s forces with ammunition, food and support for extended operations, he says, as Ukraine stepped up attacks on Russian logistics.

However, according to some pictures sent by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in August, the mercenaries began to become demoralized and complained about the lack of ammunition.

Former commander Kapitulin, who says he talks to his old comrades almost daily, explained that the depression was due to their dissatisfaction.Against the general organization of struggle: impotence [conducerii ruse] To make efficient decisions, organize in battles.”

They suffered many losses on the battlefield and had to resort to conscription, many billboards with similar announcements are seen in Russia.

Even Putin’s ally, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, admitted in late September that he was the head of the Wagner Group, denying it repeatedly and taking the Russian media who claimed it to court.

Wagner’s recruiting ads also appeared on social media, with one recruiter contacted by CNN saying the monthly salary “At least 240,000 rubles“(About $4,000)Business travel” – a coded message indicating a mission – for at least four months. Applicants with medical conditions (such as cancer) or those using prohibited substances will not be accepted, the examiner said.

Contrary to popular belief about the elite military system, a CNN journalist who contacted a Wagner recruiter reportedly learned that military experience was not required.

The conversation ended with a code word – “Morgan” – applicants had to deliver at the entrance to the Wagner facility in Krasnodar, Russia.

In September, a video surfaced showing Wagner recruiting prisoners from Russian prisons. His offer: a promise of leniency for six months of combat service in Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion.

act of desperation” That’s how former Commander Wagner described the Capitol’s call.

[Wagner] They are willing to send anyone, but anyone“, Ukrainian lawyer Yuri Pelozov told CNN. “There is no other criteria for professionalism“, a situation that could increase the number of war crimes.

Capitoline said a criminal record is not a barrier to working at Wagner. He served three years in prison for the murder and told CNN about key Wagner commanders who served the group around the world after his prison sentence.

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