Prisoner units attached to the ranks of the Russian mercenary group “Wagner” in Ukraine have suffered heavy losses, losing up to 20,000 men in a few months, according to the latest intelligence information published by the British Ministry of Defence.
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London reports that in the coming days, the Russian mercenary group “Wagner” will release from service the last prisoners who were recruited for the organization’s military activities. Project K’s prison recruitment scheme peaked in early 2023, recruiting at least 40,000 men. A significant number of the now pardoned convicts are likely to take up the offer to continue working for Wagner as professional contractors. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has taken over Wagner’s prison recruitment activities.
The end of the prisoner recruitment scheme marks a turning point in the history of “Wagner” and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Soldiers provided by Project K allowed Russia to capture Bakhmut: one of the occupiers’ rare successful campaigns in this war. Also, as a result of the project, “Wagner” became an organization that directly challenged President Putin’s authority last month, according to the British Ministry.
The end of the prisoner-taking campaign also marks one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history: up to 20,000 convicts were killed in a few months, British intelligence concluded.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 21 July 2023.
Find out more about Defence Intelligence’s use of language: https://t.co/tHEeJ68cdx
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/ZMjcLSW7rq
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) July 21, 2023
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on the morning of February 24, 2022, with rocket fire, airstrikes, and the arrival of ground forces. Russia initially cited the “denazification” of Ukraine as one of the goals of the invasion.
The occupiers in Ukraine have suffered heavy losses and are accused of deliberate killing of civilians, as well as other war crimes.
2023-07-21 06:13:33
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