Russian President: “Wagner does not exist.. There is no law on private military organizations.”
Posted on: July 14, 2023: 02:14 AM GST Last updated: July 14, 2023: 02:42 AM GST
Russian President Vladimir Putin said, in an interview published late Thursday, that he has offered fighters from Russia’s private military group Wagner an opportunity to continue serving within Russia’s regular army.
Putin also said it was up to the Russian parliament and government to discuss the legal framework for private military groups.
Putin told the newspaper, “Wagner does not exist. There is no law on private military organizations.”
For its part, the Pentagon said Thursday that the Wagner Group does not participate in military operations in Ukraine of any importance.
“At this point, we don’t see Wagner forces participating in any significant amount in support of combat operations in Ukraine,” said Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman.
Wagner’s fighters fought some of the fiercest battles of the war in Ukraine. But in the aftermath of the June 23-24 mutiny, the fighters were given a choice between going into exile, joining the Russian regular forces, or returning home.
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2023-07-13 22:14:00
