Report RUSI: Wagnerians under the control of the GRU remain in Africa

Russia resorts to non -traditional methods to expand its influence, attempts to avoid isolation and within the framework of efforts to destabilize and weaken its opponents. Some of the methods are associated with rebranding the Wagner mercenaries group, which successfully promotes the Kremlin’s policy on the African continent to access natural resources. This is stated in the report of the Royal United Institute of Defense Studies (RUSI), published on February 20, which is based in London.

Russian President Vladimir Putin saw in the development of economic ties with Africa and the countries of the Middle East a way to protect themselves from sanctions during the period when many Western states are trying to isolate Russia for the ambassador of the full -scale invasion of its army into Ukraine, the RUSI report is indicated.

According to experts of the Royal Institute, the Wagner PMC, which broke up in June last year after the rebellion of its founder, now the deceased Evgeny Prigozhin, was transferred to the control of Russian military intelligence of the GRU. Since then, the group has been functioning as an expeditionary building, in which in Africa and the Middle East the task has been set to weaken the position in the region of the Western powers.

"The GRU took over the functions of the Wagner group and is actively engaged in the expansion of its partnership with Africa in order to supplant Western interests," the authors of which use the term "luxurolonialism", mentioning its success "in several directions."

At the same time, the RUSI report contains criticism of the Western governments, namely, it is indicated to their "inability to promote the solution of the problems that their partners face." Experts also write about the high level of disappointment to the West in these regions, which only strengthens the "Russian mandate".

Among other things, the RUSI report says that the Russian authorities use the leader of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov to create a wide network of influence among the Chechen and Muslim population in Europe and in the Middle East - with the same intention to promote the interests of Western countries. The refusal of a number of states to join international sanctions against Russia is partly a consequence of Kadyrov’s diplomatic efforts, experts believe.

The Economist , in the publication dedicated to the conclusions of RUSI, draws attention to the fact that the experts of the institute, when preparing a report, relied on documents "received from the Russian special services", and in an interview with "relevant official bodies". Presumably, we are talking about special services in Ukraine and Europe.

At the end of 2022, as stated in the study, the Russian leadership came to the conclusion that he needed more clear reporting from its departments. The deputy head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Kiriyenko, was instructed to lead the "Committees of Special Infant." It is these structures that coordinate operations against the West, and subsequently analyze their effect. Such a personnel decision, apparently, led to more consistent propaganda campaigns. As an example, Moldova is given, about which the report states that previously scattered efforts to disinformation against the application of this country for membership in the EU last year became more consistent and purposeful.

• On August 23 last year, the private aircraft Embraer, which was used by Evgeny Prigozhin, exploded in the air and crashed over the Tver region. According to the official version, the founder of the Wagner PMC and several his closest associates died. Prigozhin's funeral was actually held in closed mode.
• Two months before, Prigozhin and his mercenaries attempted an armed rebellion against the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, during which several helicopters and one aircraft of the Russian army were shot down. The crews of several sides died.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin at first accused PMC of state treason, a criminal case of an armed rebellion was opened against the head of the company. Later, after negotiations through the mediation of Alexander Lukashenko, it was possible to agree on the departure of the mercenaries into Belarusian territory. Putin promised in return to stop the pursuit of the rebels. Even later, commenting on the collapse of Prigozhin’s aircraft, the Russian president hinted that according to the investigative committee, the board exploded from the inside due to careless management of ammunition. Officially, the investigation has not yet been completed. Some of Prigozhin's associates believe that the businessman’s plane was purposefully knocked down.
• In early November last year, the chairman of the State Duma committee on defense Andrei Kartapolov in an interview with the Parliamentary Gazeta said that Wagner's PMC was finally disbanded. "Most of the fighters are in the process of transition to other structures. Someone continues to carry out tasks in Africa countries, but already under, let’s say, by another brand and under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense, someone has concluded a contract with the armed forces, someone joined the Russian Guard," Kartapolov noted.