According to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, the Russian mercenary outfit Wagner is perpetrating widespread atrocities and violations of human rights. On Friday, January 19, the United States government recognized Wagner as an international criminal organization. According to Kirby, Wagner has 50,000 warriors in Ukraine, and 80% of them come from jails. Wagner “is a criminal organization that violates human rights and commits several atrocities. We will put forth the unwavering effort to track down, thwart, expose, and target those who are aiding (it), “According to a report by the news agency AFP early on Saturday, Kirby (January 21).
Kirby claimed that Wagner had evolved into a challenger to the official Russian military while displaying images of North Korea supporting the mercenary force with weapons for its actions in Ukraine. According to photos taken on November 18–19 of last year, Russian rail cars entered North Korea, picked up a load of infantry rockets and missiles, and then left for Russia, Kirby said, adding that the US had informed the UNSC’s unit on North Korea sanctions of its intelligence regarding Wagner’s purchase. He added that the transfers of weapons from North Korea are a clear breach of resolutions of the UN Security Council.
White House also noted that Wagner is edging out the Russian military and other ministries as a rival power center
The spokeswoman for national security at the White House also noted that Wagner is edging out the Russian military and other ministries as a rival power center. Additionally, Kirby stated on Friday that “Prigozhin is seeking to advance his own interests in Ukraine and Wagner is making military decisions partly based on what they will create for Prigozhin, in terms of positive press. He further stated that Wagner had received official designation as a transnational criminal organization from the US Treasury. The classification would allow sanctions to be applied more broadly to the group’s extensive global network, which includes operations in Africa and beyond.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, has claimed responsibility for Moscow’s advances over several months against Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, including the capture of nearby Soledar last week. A businessman close to Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia could learn a lot from the Ukrainian army.
