Putin’s Paramilitary 2.0 | SpyCast

Since its emergence in 2014, the Wagner Group has operated as the Kremlin's shadow army, deploying mercenaries across Africa and the Middle East. It gave Vladimir Putin plausible deniability, expanding Moscow's geopolitical influence by propping up leaders through military assistance and securing Moscow's economic interests through weapons deals and access to natural resources. UN experts and human rights organizations accused the mercenaries of disappearances, torture, executions, mass graves, rape, and pillaging. Three years ago this week, its financier and leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, launched a failed rebellion. He then died an untimely death, and Putin's security services moved to assert direct control of the paramilitary. This week, Sasha sits down with expert Candace Rondeaux to discuss Wagner's successor, Africa Corps, which has kept the expeditionary force in Africa and Ukraine. The author of Putin's Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia's Collapse into Mercenary Chaos. Rondeaux discusses Africa Corps' struggles and conquests as it helps to keep Putin's war machine churning. Follow us: Facebook:   / intlspymuseum   Twitter: https://www.x.com/intlspymuseum Instagram:   / spymuseum   The International Spy Museum® is an independent nonprofit organization. Generous support from viewers like you fuel our nonprofit mission and make our collection, exhibits, and educational programs like this possible. DONATE here: https://bit.ly/3NUqU9C This show is brought to you from Goat Rodeo, N2K Networks, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs. And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at [email protected]. The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.