Inside the Wagner Group: Origins to Mutiny — John Bruni

10. 7. 2023

This episode of The IR thinker offers a detailed examination of the Wagner Group, tracing its emergence, leadership and overseas operations, and assessing its performance and limitations in the war in Ukraine. The conversation considers what Wagner’s methods reveal about Russian military strategy, explores the group’s mutiny and seizure of Rostov-on-Don, and discusses the wider implications for Russia’s armed forces, security services and political system.

John Bruni

Dr John Bruni is a researcher, analyst and podcaster specialising in military and intelligence affairs, with regional expertise in the Middle East, North East Asia and the South Pacific. His work focuses on defence procurement, terrorism and counter terrorism, United States strategic policy, geospatial intelligence and the proliferation of ballistic missiles. A former lecturer at the University of Adelaide, he has contributed analysis to Jane’s and serves as a non-resident fellow at TRENDS Research and Advisory in Abu Dhabi. He is also the CEO and founder of SAGE International, an independent Australian think tank dedicated to defence, space, security and international relations.

Content

00:00 - Introduction
01:54 - Wagner Group’s Inception & Dmitry Utkin’s Role
04:47 - Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Story
06:24 - Dmitry Utkin’s Current Status
07:38 - Wagner Group’s Overseas Assignments
11:07 - Wagner Group’s Travelling & Membership Details
14:37 - Procurement & Profitability of Wagner Group
16:31 - Comparing Wagner Group with Western Military Contractors
19:02 - The Principle of ‘Plausible Deniability’
21:44 - Putin’s Acknowledgement of Wagner Group’s Funding & Ownership
25:27 - Expectations from Wagner Group and Russian Army in Ukraine
28:05 - Coordination Between Wagner Group and Russian Army in Ukraine
29:37 - Perception of Wagner Group by High Ranking Russian Military Officers
34:14 - Strengths and Weaknesses of Wagner Group
36:59 - Lessons Learnt by the Collective West in Ukraine
45:25 - Potential Successors of Wagner Group in Ukraine
49:46 - Non-destruction of Western Supply Routes in Ukraine: Why?
53:01 - Russian Airspace Penetration: How and Why?
56:01 - Wagner Group’s Seizure of Rostov on Don Airbase
59:57 - Bizarre Tactics of Russian Airforce in Ukraine
01:00:35 - Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD)
01:02:41 - Connection Between Wagner Group and FSB
01:04:51 - Future Impact & Scenarios: Wagner Group and Belarus