Wagner mercenaries continue to receive salaries – report
Despite official announcements of the Wagner
Group PMC getting disbanded, its fighters continue to be well-compensated,
Russian media outlet Mozhem Obyasnit reported via Telegram on July 24.
According to the report, Wagner mercenaries now receive a reduced monthly salary – RUB 150,000 ($1,660), which is still almost three times the median Russian wage. This is the amount awarded to those who are willing to go to Belarus or African countries, where Wagner maintains a major presence.
Based on private chat groups of relatives of the fighters, after the unsuccessful mutiny of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the curtailing of the PMC's operation, “Wagnerites” have seen a 40% decrease in their salaries.
Moreover, there have been more complaints about payment delays in the PMC, which did not occur previously.
On June 24, the founder and leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ended his one-day insurrection against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after negotiations with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Putin presented the Wagner troops with three options as a result of the negotiations – one of which involved their deployment to Belarus.
Shortly after, reports emerged of camp constructions in Belarus intended to accommodate the Wagner mercenaries. Satellite images of a potential field camp were subsequently released. While Lukashenko denied the existence of any camps specifically for Wagner units, he mentioned that they would be “provided with accommodation” if necessary.
According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Belarus has the capacity to host approximately 8,000 Wagner mercenaries. However, Ukrainian intelligence cautioned against premature conclusions regarding their deployment to that country.
Later, information surfaced suggesting that the Wagner mercenaries in Belarus would be involved in training Belarusian nationals for combat. This statement was supported by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and on July 12, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus confirmed negotiations regarding the training of Belarusian special forces.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
