The Russian presidency, the Kremlin, stated today, Friday, that "the status of the Wagner private military group needs to be studied," following President Vladimir Putin's assertion that the group does not have a legal basis. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists that "the situation regarding companies like Wagner is somewhat complex and requires examination." In response to a question about the possibility of new legislation concerning the status of private military companies, Peskov replied, "This question will be considered in any case."
Wagner fought the fiercest battles in the war in Ukraine on behalf of Russia, but uncertainty surrounds its fate and that of its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, following the rebellion the group launched on June 23 and 24, during which it captured a city in southern Russia and advanced towards Moscow.
In a separate context, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated today, Friday, that fighters from the Russian private military group Wagner are training soldiers in the country. The ministry released a video showing Wagner fighters training Belarusian soldiers in a military area near the town of Asipovichy, located about 90 kilometers southeast of the capital, Minsk. The ministry stated: "Wagner fighters are performing training duties in several military specialties." Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko helped mediate an agreement to end a short-lived armed rebellion launched by Wagner on June 23 and 24, when the group seized the city of Rostov in southern Russia, moved towards Moscow, shot down several military helicopters, and killed their pilots.
