2025/06/02 by David Christopher Jaklin · 2 voices
Social Sciences · #European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies #Intelligence, Security, War Strategy
paper · doi:10.1080/08850607.2025.2498276
openalex publication_date 2025/06/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/08
The Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization often referred to as a private military company (PMC), was an important means of hybrid power projection by the Russian Federation. It was used for military operations in Russia’s “near abroad,” as well as on a global scale as a security export model to access diplomatic support and natural resources and to circumvent international sanctions. The PMC’s close ties to the military intelligence service GRU can be traced throughout the operations of the Wagner Group. This article portrays these links and the Wagner Group’s importance for Russia in the Middle East and Africa. Its nexus to the intelligence nexus can be found not only on a personal level but also on several operational and support levels. To conclude, the ongoing developments after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s attempted coup in the summer of 2023 are examined.