Ian Parmeter, a Research Scholar at the Australian National University, chats with John about the Wagner Group mercenaries Russia is forming.

For many years Putin wouldn’t acknowledge Wagner or even utter its name.

However, last month the BBC quoted British officials saying that the number of Wagner fighters in Ukraine had increased from about 1,000 in February to 20,000.

As Putin’s army loses ground in Ukraine, he’s relying increasingly on Wagner Group mercenaries.

Ian explains to John the history of the Wagner group and what it means for the war in Ukraine and for Putin.

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