The US classifies the Russian mercenary group Wagner as a “transnational criminal organization”. The spokesman for the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, announced on Friday. The measure allows the US and other countries to restrict the international business of the mercenary group and its worldwide network of supporters. The US government will impose specific sanctions on the Wagner group next week, Kirby said.
He has not yet given details of the sanctions. According to Kirby, Wagner is a criminal organization responsible for atrocities and human rights abuses in Ukraine and around the world. There is growing rivalry between the Wagner group and the Russian military and other Russian ministries. “We see growing tensions between Wagner and the Russian Defense Ministry,” Kirby said.
10,000 Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine
North Korea has also delivered weapons to Wagner in recent weeks, Kirby said. On November 18, a train left Russia for North Korea, loaded by North Korea to return to Russia the next day. There is picture evidence for that. It is assumed that there will be further arms deliveries from North Korea.
The Wagner group is owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close confidante of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Around 50,000 soldiers are currently fighting in the ranks of the private army in Ukraine, Kirby said. Among them are 10,000 mercenaries and 40,000 prisoners. (apa)
