The group of mercenaries is recruiting people and “will fulfill the tasks that have been set,” says Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin released his first video address since leading a short-lived insurgency in late June, showing a clip possibly filmed in Africa and posted on the Wagner Group’s Telegram channels.
Prigozhin is seen standing in the desert, camouflaged, with a rifle in hand. In the distance are more armed men and a pickup truck. Prigozhin’s comments and some posts on pro-Wagner channels indicated that it was filmed in Africa.
Temp 50+ [at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit] – Everything as we like. Wagner PMC makes Russia the largest on all continents, and Africa – freer. Justice and happiness for the African people. We are making life a nightmare for ISIS [ISIL] Al Qaeda and other bandits.
He added that Wagner continues to recruit fighters and the group will carry out “the tasks that have been identified.”
The video is accompanied by a phone number for those who wish to join the mercenary group.
The future of Wagner and Prigozhin has not been clear since he led a brief insurrection against the Russian defense establishment two months earlier.
The Kremlin said it would leave with some of its soldiers, who fought in some of the fiercest battles of Ukraine’s war, for Belarus.
Since the rebellion, some of the Wagner fighters have moved to Belarus and started training the army there. In comments published in late July, Prigozhin also said Wagner was ready to increase its presence in Africa.
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