Thread by @Tatarigami_UA

🧵
1/ Despite PMC Wagner's reputation for heinous crimes and brutal tactics, certain aspects of their activities have received limited coverage. This thread illuminates the far-reaching influence of PMC Wagner and the significant security risks it poses to the global community

2/ The occupation of Soledar in the Donetsk region by the Wagner mercenaries provided the russian media with a significant success story, enabling them to shift the focus away from the army's major operational failures and loss of control over the Kherson and Kharkiv regions.

3/ As the reputational bubble of Wagner continued to inflate, and the "PMC" was granted exceptional rights to recruit criminals, its head, Prigozhin, accused Defense Minister Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Gerasimov of "treason" due to the lack of support and ammunition.

4/ To consolidate his power, putin relies more on conventional forces, which is why he has recently taken measures to curb Wagner's internal influence. The NYT reported that putin attempted to resolve the conflict by calling for a meeting between Prigozhin and Shoigu on 22.02

5/ Wagner's loss of ability to recruit from prisons has led to a growing dependence on the Ministry of Defense, as they now rely on conscripted soldiers who are forced to sign contracts with them amidst high mortality rate among convict mercenaries

6/ While some of you may be familiar with Wagner's involvement in the russia's invasion of Ukraine and Syria, their operations extend beyond these theaters. Wagner's activities have been observed in Mali, Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic, and Burkina Faso.

7/ PMC Wagner's flexibility surpasses that of the russian army, thanks to their separate budget and unconventional methods. For instance, US Assistant Secretary of State for EAP, Daniel Kritenbrink, reported that Wagner obtained satellite images from the Chinese company, Spacety.

8/ Over the past decade, PMC Wagner has expanded its influence in Middle Eastern and African countries by filling power vacuums left by European nations and exploiting natural resources such as gold and precious stones. PMC's annual income can be several billion US dollars.

9/ "Wagner" has been generating revenue from illegal mining and selling of gold and precious stones in the CAR, with an estimated annual income of around one billion dollars, according to Politico. The company began exploiting gold in the CAR in 2018 with around 2,000 mercenaries

10/ In 2023, the departure of French troops from Burkina Faso paved the way for the Wagner group to gain access to the country's raw resources, including precious materials. The Wagner group has also attempted to establish a foothold in Mozambique and Madagascar.

11/ Given the evolving situation in Sudan, it is crucial to keep in mind that PMC Wagner has a vested interest in securing gold mines there and maintains connections with the RSF. Although there is currently no evidence of Wagner's direct involvement, the situation can change

12/ Since 2021, UN experts in Mali received reports of executions, torture, rape, pillaging, detentions, and enforced disappearances. These atrocities were reportedly committed by the Malian armed forces and their allies such as Wagner in the Mopti area and other locations.

13/ Collaboration with Wagner should be strongly discouraged. While some countries have already imposed sanctions on the company's mercenaries, such as freezing of assets and travel bans, more stringent and consolidated efforts are necessary to mitigate security risks from Wagner

14/ The designation of the "Wagner" as a transnational criminal organization by the US and Lithuania is a step that could lead to its international recognition as a criminal organization. Cooperation with Wagner will result in political and economic costs for participants

Don't forget to like, follow, and share the first message of this thread to stay updated. Twitter algorithms tend to demote such content, so your support can help ensure you don't miss important updates.