According to UK Intelligence, Russia’s Africa Corps, consisting of ex-Wagner mercenaries, has been sent to Kharkiv

Russian units from the MoD’s newly established African Corps have been identified in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, as reported by UK Defense Intelligence. The African Corps, formed in December 2023, consists of over 2,000 regular soldiers and officers, including experienced mercenaries, some of whom were previously associated with the Wagner Group. Following the disappearance of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, believed to be orchestrated by the Kremlin, the Wagner Group has been marginalized and effectively placed under the control of the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian Ministry of Defense created the African Corps in an effort to recruit former Wagner Group members and direct their activities towards military operations in Africa. It has been noted that Wagner fighters may be more motivated by financial incentives rather than loyalty to the group since Prigozhin’s absence. The presence of the African Corps in Ukraine indicates Russia’s strategy to consolidate its hold on remaining Wagner Group members and redirect their efforts from Africa to the conflict in Ukraine.

The UK intelligence report reveals that Russian forces, including units from the African Corps, have been involved in the offensive on Vovchansk, north of Kharkiv. The deployment of these forces signifies a shift in resources from Africa to support Russia’s actions in Ukraine. It is likely that detachments of the African Corps were redeployed to the Ukrainian border in preparation for the offensive on Kharkiv. Despite initial reports suggesting Russia’s intention to capture Kharkiv, President Putin recently stated that the goal is to establish a buffer zone to protect the Russian town of Belgorod near the border.

Sergey Sukhankin, an expert at the Jamestown Foundation, has emphasized that the fighters within the African Corps will comply with the directives of the Russian Defense Ministry. The recruitment of former Wagner Group members for combat operations in Africa emphasizes the Ministry’s bid to exert control over these experienced fighters and integrate them into official military structures. By offering monetary incentives and benefits, the Russian Ministry of Defense is attempting to attract and retain skilled mercenaries who may have been less ideologically aligned with the Wagner Group post-Prigozhin’s disappearance.

The presence of Russian forces, including units from the African Corps, in Ukraine underscores the escalating conflict in the region and the shifting dynamics within Russian military operations. The utilization of former Wagner Group members in the African Corps highlights Russia’s efforts to capitalize on experienced combatants for its strategic objectives. The involvement of these forces in the offensive on Vovchansk and the broader conflict in Ukraine signifies a significant development in the ongoing crisis. As Russia consolidates its control over the remnants of the Wagner Group through the African Corps, it is clear that the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve with implications for regional stability and security.

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https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-deploys-africa-corps-ex-wagner-fighters-kharkiv-uk-intel-2024-5