The group of mercenaries is recruiting people and “will fulfill the tasks that are set,” says Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin posted his first video address since leading a short-lived insurgency in late June, featuring a clip that may have been filmed in Africa and released on the Wagner Group’s Telegram channels.
Prigozhin was seen standing in the desert in camouflage uniform with a rifle in his hands. In the distance are more armed men and a pickup truck. Prigozhin’s comments and some posts on pro-Wagner channels indicate that it was filmed in Africa.
Temp 50+ [at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit] – Everything as we like. Wagner PMC makes Russia greater on all continents, and in Africa – freer. Justice and happiness for the African people. We are making life a nightmare for ISIS [ISIL] “And al Qaeda and other bandits,” Prigozhin said.
He added that Wagner continues to recruit fighters and that the group “will carry out the tasks that have been assigned to it.”
The video is accompanied by a phone number for those who want to join the mercenary group.
The future of Wagner and Prigozhin has been unclear since he led a brief insurrection against the Russian defense establishment two months earlier.
The Kremlin said it and some of its soldiers, who fought in some of the fiercest battles of Ukraine’s war, would leave for Belarus.
Since the rebellion, some of the Wagner fighters have moved to Belarus and started training the army there. In comments published in late July, Prigozhin also said Wagner was ready to increase its presence in Africa.
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