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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Andrew Roth

Wagner group accused of stoking ‘anarchy’ on Russia’s frontlines

Yevgeny Prigozhin talking to his fighters in Bakhmut
Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) talking to his fighters in Bakhmut. A Kremlin commander has claimed the mercenaries had tortured and forced his soldiers to sign contracts with the group. Photograph: Telegram/@concordgroup_official/AFP/Getty

The Wagner group has been accused of stoking “anarchy” on Russia’s frontlines after one of the Kremlin’s military commanders claimed Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mercenaries had kidnapped and tortured his soldiers during the battle for Bakhmut.

In a video posted online, Lt Col Roman Venevitin also accused Wagner soldiers of stealing arms, forcing mobilised soldiers to sign contracts with Wagner, and attempting to extort weapons from the Russian defence ministry in exchange for releasing kidnapped soldiers.

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