Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin seen in video for first time since tried mutiny
T
he chief of the Wagner Group has been seen in a video for the primary time since he deserted a mutiny in Russia.
Yevgeny Prigozhin launched footage of himself, carrying camouflage and holding a rifle, in an unknown location however believed to be someplace in Africa.
The mercenary group boss – as soon as an in depth confidant of Vladimir Putin – was banished to Belarus within the aftermath of his march on Moscow in late June.
In the video, posted on social media app Telegram, he talked about making Africa “free” and tackling terrorist teams on the continent.
Prigozhin additionally gave particulars about Wagner recruitment and a phone quantity for individuals who wish to be part of the non-public military.
The group is believed to have 1000’s of fighters in Africa, the place it has profitable enterprise pursuits and troopers embedded in nations together with Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR).
The UK final month imposed sanctions on the 2 heads of Wagner’s operations in CAR, following accusations that civillians had been tortured and killed.
Prigozhin’s troopers have additionally been accused by the US authorities of getting wealthy via illicit gold offers on the continent.
In the video, he claims Wagner is searching for minerals on the continent in addition to preventing Islamist militants.
“We are working. Wagner conducts reconnaissance and search actions, makes Russia even greater on all continents, and Africa even more free,” Prigozhin is heard saying.
“Justice and happiness – for the African people, we’re making life a nightmare for ISIS and Al-Qaeda and other bandits.”
Prigozhin has been holding a low public profile since main a short-lived tried coup in opposition to Putin in June.
Some 5,000 Wagner troops seized management of town of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia and started marching in direction of Moscow, with the intention of eradicating the nation’s official navy management.
The advance stopped after simply 24 hours when Belarusian chief Alexander Lukashenko mediated negotiations with the Kremlin and struck a deal that mutiny prices in opposition to Prigozhin dropped and provided him refuge in Belarus.
However, he was photographed in St Petersburg throughout July’s Africa-Russia summit.
Meanwhile Ukraine destroyed a supersonic Russian bomber in a drone strike, it was reported right this moment.
Images posted on social media seem to point out the long-range plane, the Tupolev Tu-22, on fireplace.
The burning aircraft was situated south of St Petersburg, in line with evaluation by the BBC.
Russia’s defence ministry stated on Saturday {that a} Ukrainian drone had focused a navy airfield in Russia’s Novgorod area, damaging a warplane.
Ukraine has not acknowledged the strike and sometimes refuses to touch upon assaults in Russian territory.