Explainer | What is Russia’s Wagner Group and why was it accused of mutiny?

The group operates independently of Russia’s official armed forces, and recently rebuffed Moscow’s demands that its recruits sign formal contracts with the military

Yevgeny Prigozhin for months accused the defence ministry of failing to adequately support his forces, and in May threatened to pull his troops out of the operation

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Membes of the Wagner Group military company sit atop of a tank on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on June 24. Photo: AP

Published: 7:19pm, 26 Jun 2023

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia’s private militia the Wagner Group, called off his mutiny after his forces advanced to within a few hundred miles of Moscow, defusing the biggest threat to Vladimir Putin’s grip on Russia in his almost quarter-century rule.

Prigozhin’s forces had faced little resistance on Saturday as they advanced from southern Russia toward the capital after the mercenary chief vowed to punish Russian military leaders, saying Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had orchestrated a missile attack that killed “huge” numbers of his fighters.

Putin denounced the rebellion in a televised address on Saturday and promised harsh punishment for those involved, who he accused of treason. Hours later, Prigozhin halted the dramatic advance, after reaching a deal to end the uprising. Putin guaranteed that Prigozhin would be allowed to leave for neighbouring Belarus and authorities would drop criminal mutiny charges against him and his fighters.

Here’s what you need to know about the Wagner Group, its role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military District amid the group’s pullout from the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia on June 24. Photo: Reuters

What is the Wagner Group?

Founded by Prigozhin in 2014, Wagner at its peak had about 50,000 mercenary recruits – many of them ex-prisoners – fighting in Ukraine. The US designated the group as a transnational criminal organisation earlier this year, and Wagner has been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the European Union. The group has operated for years on battlefields in the Middle East and Africa, where it’s been accused of committing widespread human rights abuses.