855: Russia's Wagner Group and Why Coups Fail | Out of the Loop

Formation

The Wagner Group, a private military company, has a complex formation and leadership structure. Brian Klaas explains that Dmitri Utkin, a career soldier and neo-Nazi, played a pivotal role in its establishment, initially appearing in eastern Ukraine as part of Russia's covert operations 1. Despite its private label, Jordan Harbinger notes that Wagner operates as an extension of the Russian state, with Vladimir Putin acknowledging its governmental ties 2. The group's members, often seen as mercenaries, surprisingly hold respect for their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, viewing him as a charismatic figure despite the grim realities of their missions 2.

These guys didn't surrender. Right. They were captured. So that tells you kind of all you really need to know in combination with their testimony there.

--- Jordan Harbinger

This respect is intriguing given the harsh conditions and high mortality rates they face.

   

Recruitment

Wagner Group's recruitment strategy is as unconventional as its operations. Brian Klaas highlights that the group recruits from diverse backgrounds, including military veterans and prison inmates, often appealing to those with limited options 3. The allure of adventure and financial gain attracts many, despite the high risk of death, as evidenced by the group's significant losses in battles like Bakmut 3. Klaas shares insights from conversations with captured convicts, revealing that only about 20% of prisoners opted to join Wagner, driven by desperation and the grim reality of their sentences 4.

He even said, I'll take you out of here alive. I will not necessarily return you alive, and only God or Allah can spirit you away, and that will be in a wooden box.

--- Brian Klaas

This stark choice underscores the harsh conditions and limited prospects faced by recruits.