In the fight against the Russian invaders, the Ukrainian armed forces have apparently succeeded against the infamous Wagner mercenary group. The private army, founded by “Putin’s cook” Yevgeny Prigozhin, known for its ruthless operations, is said to have lost dozens, if not hundreds of men in the attack. “Only one survived,” says a senior Ukrainian army officer.
The American magazine Newsweek, among others, reported about the attack. According to information from bystanders from the Ukrainian armed forces, the football stadium used by Wagner forces as a base in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kadiivka, controlled by pro-Russian rebels since 2014, has been destroyed in a “well-targeted attack” “The base of the Wagner group caught fire,” said Serhij Hajdaj, head of the local military administration
Mercenaries must speed up the Russian advance
It goes without saying that Wagner mercenaries are being deployed in Ukraine: The British Ministry of Defense reported in late March that Prigozhin’s private army was operating in Ukraine to accelerate the advance and offset the high losses.
But the unscrupulous and well-equipped mercenaries are also fighting bitter resistance from Ukrainian defenders: in late May, Ukraine dealt a heavy blow against a larger Wagner unit in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region.
No official number of victims known for the time being
It is not known how many mercenaries were killed in the latest attack: “Newsweek” reports 22 dead and four injured, citing Ukrainian media, but British “Sun” said up to 300 Wagner mercenaries may have died. Hajdaj tweeted that only one mercenary survived. There is no official information on the number of victims.
Putin’s ‘shadow army’ is active worldwide
The Wagner group is considered Putin’s “shadow army”. In recent years, Prigozhin’s mercenaries have been deployed wherever Russia is at war or pursuing other interests — in Syria, Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali and recently, increasingly, Ukraine. The name of the mercenary army is said to come from Prigozhin’s fondness for the German composer Richard Wagner.
The Russian government rejects any connection. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks of a “private military company” that carries out assignments all over the world. Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov also prefers to speak of a “security company” in connection with the mercenary.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
