The Briefing Room

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David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news

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The Briefing Room: Who's Afraid of The Wagner Group?

Who's Afraid of The Wagner Group?

BBC Radio 4 - The Briefing Room, Who's Afraid of The Wagner Group?

Are the 'Wagner' mercenaries fighting for Russia in Ukraine becoming a problem for Putin?

A private army run by the so-called Wagner group is fighting on Russia's behalf in Ukraine. Are its leader and its soldiers becoming a problem for Vladimir Putin?

The Briefing Room's David Aaronovitch is joined by a team of experts to find out more about the Wagner group, the mysterious private organisation, that's acknowledged by the Russian government to have been supplying soldiers to fight its war in Ukraine. Wagner's leader, Yevgheny Prigozhin, was once known as Vladimir Putin's 'chef'. Soldiers fighting for him won the battle for Soledar - one of few military successes for Russia in Ukraine in recent months. Has his prowess on the battlefield re-invigorated Russia's army - or turned Prigozhin into a potential rival to Putin?

Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:
Samantha De Bendern, Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House
Joana De Deus Pereira,Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute Europe
Marina Miron, Post-doctoral researcher at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London
Andras Racz, Senior Research Fellow of the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin

Produced by: Daniel Gordon, Ben Carter, Kirsteen Knight
Edited by: Richard Vadon
Sound engineer: James Beard


PHOTO: Graffiti praising soldiers from the Wagner Group (Getty)

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