The year and a half war in Ukraine has come to a surprising and interesting turn of events when, for over two days, the military group Wagner launched a massive show of force, signifying the large weakness Putin’s Russia has.

But what was the main motive behind the private military company?

Wagner was formed in 2014 as a mercenary group working closely with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Ever since, they massively expanded their field of operations, spanning Asia, Africa, and the middle east. 

They interfere in domestic and international conflicts siding with whoever has relations with the Russian government, or exclusively fund Wagner activities. 

But recently, as Russia began an invasion of Ukraine, Wagner group’s armed forces were needed elsewhere. 

It was precisely in Ukraine that Wagner’s chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, changed his tone from being totally one of Putin’s most loyal fighters into a harsh critic, particularly, at the military leadership of the Russian troops.

He argues that the generals push the Russian troops in Ukraine to an attrition war, causing massive casualties on the Russian side, and that he demands more attention to this matter. 

It was on the 23rd of June that Wagner began a massive rebellion across southern Russia in the cities of Rostov and Voronezh, capturing government buildings, checkpoints, and shooting down at least one helicopter.

But it was only after two days that Putin brokered a deal with the group mediated by Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko. 

What were the intentions of the group? Why would one of Putin’s most loyal and active military organizations show such swift ascending?

Not only did Wagner bring the world’s attention to a sudden halt, the group also exposed a totally vulnerable and shocked Putin that would define the rest of the invasion for years to come.

By: B.E