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Home > Official reports > Wagner PMC and the Semi-Privatisation of Russian State Security

Russia’s State-Sponsored Killers: The Wagner Group

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DOI: 10.3929/ethz-b-000588677 and ISSN 1863-0421
Issued: 
Dec. 22, é022
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8 PDF pages

Abstract

The importance of irregular military companies has been increasing for Russia since it began its war against Ukraine in 2014/15. These military companies act in coordination with the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Federal Security Service (FSB), the foreign intelligence service, and the presidential administration. Russia’s mercenaries practice exterminatory warfare, and operate as parallel or shadow armies, which can rarely be held accountable.

This article traces the increasingly significant role played by the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) within Russia. Wagner PMC’s prominent, if not officially acknowledged, role in the offensive on Ukraine has accelerated a process by which it has semi-privatised certain functions of state security. This is likely to have an impact on the nature of the Russian state in the years ahead.

 

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