After the death of their boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, it was unclear for a long time what would happen to the fighters of the Wagner mercenary group. Now it has become known: Thousands of men are returning to the front in Ukraine – but this time as part of the Russian Guard.
The first fighters are already stationed in the Avdiivka region, according to the Ukrainian secret service. “A volunteer corps of 18,000 people is currently being formed in Russia. These, including all former Wagnerians, are headed by the Ministry of Defense,” Ukrainian general and deputy chairman of the main intelligence agency Vadim Skibitsky told Interfax-Ukraine.
There are differences in salary
“So they are actively deployed because they have combat experience. “That means they are now on the battlefield,” the general said. The corps’ approach is the same as that of the Wagner group in Bakhmut, but there are financial differences: “These are continuous offensive missions and achieving results at all costs. As for the salary, it is almost the same as in the Russian Armed Forces. But Wagner’s salary was higher and Wagner really appreciated his instructors and commanders.”
Former Wagner mercenaries had previously been integrated into the Russian army, but were deployed to the Afrika Korps, which also reports to the Russian Ministry of Defense. This was established to replace the Wagner troops.
Veteran status and insurance benefits beckon
Recruitment measures for former Wagner fighters have already begun: a six-month contract is being offered for deployment in Ukraine and nine months in Africa. The hired mercenaries could also receive veteran status, as well as insurance benefits in case of injury or death, topwar.ru reported. “The 1st Volunteer Corps invites people for whom the defense of the Motherland is the only right choice,” reads an official statement on the magazine’s website.
The Russian army has recently made progress near Avdiivka. The experienced Wagner fighters could also have contributed to this if they had been deployed there for a longer period of time. The army’s losses since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine are difficult to estimate; there is talk of 88,000 Russian victims. Recruiting former mercenaries could be a way to prevent a new wave of recruitment shortly before elections in Russia.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
