In a significant move, the U.K. government officially branded the Russian private mercenary firm Wagner Group as a terrorist organization.
According to an announcement on the U.K. government’s website, the Russian mercenary organization, Wagner Group, has been officially outlawed as a terrorist organization, effective September 15. This legal order criminalizes affiliation with or active support for the Wagner Group within the UK, carrying a potential 14-year jail sentence, either in conjunction with or in lieu of a fine.
The Wagner Group has notably expanded its ranks to meet Moscow’s escalating demand for combatants, particularly in the conflict in Ukraine. It is estimated to comprise tens of thousands of individuals, including convicts. The group has been at the forefront of some of the most violent conflicts in Ukraine and has an active presence in various African nations. Notably, its former leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, initiated an unsuccessful coup in late June, and later met an untimely demise in a plane crash on August 23