The Wagner Group, a network of mercenaries collaborating in Ukraine with the Russian Armed Forces, has slowed down in recent weeks the pace of recruitment of prisoners to join the conflict, according to British military intelligence, which confirms a slowdown in the number of releases.
In particular, if the Russian prison services reported between September and November a decrease of 23,000 people in the prison population, between November and January the figure has gone down to about 6,000. The UK Intelligence services consider that the Wagner Group plays a key role.
London also perceives a reduced dependence of the Russian Armed Forces on the group headed by the oligarch Yevgeni Prigozhin, as well as «significant tensions» between this firm and the Ministry of Defense. Indeed, it believes that «competition between factions of the Russian elite» may be «partly responsible» for the alleged decline in prisoner recruitment.
The Wagner Group has been involved in some of the most significant advances by pro-Moscow forces in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, even claiming credit for areas conquered before the Russian government had even publicly confirmed them.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
