Wagner Group: Private Military Company: Establishment, Profile and Operations 2013-2023 Volume 2 [Paperback]

&a fascinating read and I think it is critical to have such a documentary about the current events available in parallel to the TV and radio comments we see and hear about the current events involving Russia and Ukraine.  IPMS/USAThe Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) first appeared in Ukraines Donbas region during the initial Russian intervention in the spring of 2014. Its fighterslacking national insignia, Russian flags, or unit designations and always concealing their faces in publicpresented an unorthodox and ambiguous presence. However, their use of Russian-made arms, equipment, and uniforms left little doubt about Moscows involvement, reinforcing Wagners role as a deniable yet effective force in place of poorly trained local militias. Over the following years, Wagner served Moscows strategic interests by maintaining both ambiguity and control over various local proxies.While Wagner was not initially involved in Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, a series of military setbacks suffered by the Russian Armed Forces (VSRF) led to its redeployment. Following a rapid expansion, Wagner became instrumental in achieving one of the Kremlins first major military successes of the warthe capture of the heavily fortified town of Popasna in late April and early May 2022. From that point, under the nominal leadership of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner grew significantly in both manpower and firepower.The group also played a central role in Project 42174, a large-scale recruitment program that enlisted Russian prison inmates as assault troops. Tens of thousands of these recruits were deployednearly 20,000 of whom were killedduring the brutal Battle of Bakhmut, which raged from July 2022 to May 2023. This operation marked Russias first major military victory in nearly a year and had a lasting impact on the tactics and structure of the VSRF.Richly illustrated with rare photographs, custom-drawn artwork, and analysis based on captured Russian dlSo