Thousands of prisoners had been hired with reduced sentences. Wagner’s men notably played an important role in the capture of the town of Soledar, a strategic corridor to Bakhmout.
The Russian paramilitary group Wagner said on Thursday February 9 the end of the recruitment of prisoners in prisons across Russia to send them to fight in Ukraine.
“Recruitment of detainees for the private paramilitary group Wagner has come to a complete halt“, declared the head of this organization, Evguéni Prigojine, quoted in a press release issued by his press service.
Thousands of detainees
The Wagner Group, founded in 2014, has recruited thousands of inmates to fight in Ukraine in exchange for sentence reductions. Formerly discreet, Evguéni Prigojine has established himself as a major player in the conflict in Ukraine. “All Bonds“towards those who already work for the group”are being filled“, assured the press release.
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Taking of Soledar
The influence in Russia of Yevgeny Prigojine and his paramilitary group has increased significantly since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. They notably played an important role in the capture of the Ukrainian city of Soledar, in eastern Ukraine, the first success for Russian forces for several months and after a series of setbacks.
Wagner’s men are also on the offensive in Bakhmout (eastern Ukraine), which Moscow has been trying to take since the summer, at the cost of heavy losses on both sides and great destruction.
Before the conflict in Ukraine, Wagner’s mercenaries had been seen in Syria, Libya and even in several African countries.