[***] For many Russians, speaking aloud or writing a simple three-letter word online could result in fines or even jail time. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow euphemistically dubbed a “special military operation”. Russia has cracked down harshly on any internal criticism of theContinue Reading
The flight manifest for the plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday contained at least one other notable name in addition to Yevgeny Prigozhin – that of Dmitri Utkin, his longtime lieutenant in leading the Wagner private military company. Wagner emerged during President Putin’s first assault on Ukraine inContinue Reading
NEW DELHI: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner private military group, was killed in a plane accident in Russia on Wednesday. Prigozhin, who led a failed armed mutiny against Russian forces in June, was among the passengers on a plane that tragically crashed on Wednesday. The crash resulted inContinue Reading
NEW DELHI: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of mercenary group Wagner who led a short-lived revolt against Russia’s Vladimir Putin, is feared dead in a private jet crash in the Tver region north of Moscow.There was no confirmation that Prigozhin was on board the plane, although Russia’s aviation agency said heContinue Reading
Poland’s Prime Minister has raised the spectre of a surprise attack by Russia’s Wagner group of convict mercenaries. But there’s an election in the wings. And Poland’s democracy is already under assault. Speaking at a press conference at the weekend, Mateusz Morawiecki warned that more than 100 Wagner fighters hadContinue Reading
MINSK: Satellite images analysed by the Associated Press on Saturday showed what appeared to be a newly built military-style camp in Belarus, with statements from a Belarusian guerrilla group and officials suggesting it may be used to house fighters from the Wagner mercenary group.The images provided by Planet Labs PLCContinue Reading
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin sought to cast the Wagner leader who rose against him as corrupt, even as he said the Kremlin was financing the mercenary’s operations.As Yevgeny Prigozhin arrived in Belarus in his private jet from St Petersburg on Tuesday, Putin was detailing more than $3 billion he saidContinue Reading
PARIS: The revolt by the Wagner mercenary group has exposed glaring weaknesses in the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions over his capacity to weather the growing threats to his political survival, analysts say.Putin saw off the immediate danger that erupted over the weekend, with Wagner chief YevgenyContinue Reading
BEIJING: Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Xi Jinping’s gamble on a “no limits” friendship with Vladimir Putin has looked like it could backfire. This weekend’s brief uprising against Moscow again underscored the risks facing the Chinese leader.China gave a vote of confidence in Putin on Sunday, noting theContinue Reading
Australia has pledged a further $110 million in support to Ukraine, as Russia’s illegal war enters its 16th month. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the latest round of assistance would “make a real difference” to Ukrainians, as they “continue to show great courage in the face of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked,Continue Reading