Russia likely no longer funds Wagner Group - UK intel

The UK Defense Ministry said this in an intelligence update posted on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Ukrinform reports.

According to the report, the Wagner Group is likely moving towards a down-sizing and reconfiguration process, largely to save on staff salary expenses at a time of financial pressure.

“Since the abortive mutiny of June 2023, the Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group,” the report says.

It is noted that if the Russian state no longer pays Wagner, the second most plausible paymasters are the Belarusian authorities.

“However, the sizable force would be a significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources,” the report says.

As reported by Ukrinform, British intelligence earlier said that mercenaries from Russia’s Wagener PMC are likely taking part in exercises in Belarus near the borders of Poland and Lithuania as instructors.