What is the Wagner Group?
The Wagner Group, officially known as PMC Wagner, is a Russian paramilitary organisation that was founded in 2014.
It is run by Putin’s former close ally Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Russia calls the Wagner Group a “private military company,” though it has been labled as a network of mercenaries by others.
It is believed that, as of December 2022, the Wagner Group had an estimated 50,000 personnel inside Ukraine.
This number was made up of around 10,000 contractors and 40,000 convicts from Russian prisons, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said via NBC News.
In the wake of the group’s rebellion against Putin, videos posted on social media showed banners urging people to join the Wagner Group being torn down in Russian cities.