{"id":2062,"date":"2021-08-11T14:49:01","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T14:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news25.org\/?p=2062"},"modified":"2021-08-11T14:49:01","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T14:49:01","slug":"wagner-scale-of-russian-mercenary-mission-in-libya-exposed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.news25.org\/wagner-scale-of-russian-mercenary-mission-in-libya-exposed\/","title":{"rendered":"Wagner: Scale of Russian mercenary mission in Libya exposed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">A new BBC investigation has revealed the scale of operations by a shadowy Russian mercenary group in Libya&#8217;s civil war, which includes links to war crimes and the Russian military.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A Samsung tablet left by a fighter for the Wagner group exposes its key role &#8211; as well as traceable fighter codenames.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">And the BBC has a &#8220;shopping list&#8221; for state-of-the-art military equipment which expert witnesses say could only have come from Russian army supplies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Russia denies any links to Wagner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The group was first identified in 2014 when it was backing pro-Russian separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since then, it has been involved in regions including Syria, Mozambique, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Wagner&#8217;s fighters appeared in Libya in April 2019 when they joined the forces of a rebel general, Khalifa Haftar, after he launched an attack on the UN-backed government in the capital, Tripoli.\u00a0<a class=\"ssrcss-9nsdc6-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-africa-54660039\">The conflict ended in a ceasefire<\/a>\u00a0in October 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li id=\"piano-inline1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news25.org\/greece-battles-wildfires-near-athens-and-on-evia-island\/\">Greece battles wildfires near Athens and on Evia island<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news25.org\/delhi-rape-and-murder-indians-protest-over-dalit-girls-forced-cremation\/\">Delhi rape and murder: Indians protest over Dalit girl&#8217;s forced cremation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The group is notoriously secretive, but the BBC has managed to gain rare access to two former fighters. They revealed what type of person was joining Wagner &#8211; and its lack of any code of conduct.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">There is little doubt that they kill prisoners &#8211; something one ex-fighter freely admits. &#8220;No-one wants an extra mouth to feed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">This supports other parts of the TV documentary &#8211; Haftar&#8217;s Russian Mercenaries: Inside the Wagner Group &#8211; by BBC News Arabic and BBC News Russian. Its other revelations include evidence of suspected war crimes, including the intentional killing of civilians.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">One Libyan villager describes how he played dead as his relatives were killed. His testimony helped the BBC team identify a suspected killer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Describing another possible war crime, a Libyan government soldier also recalls how a comrade, his friend, surrendered to Wagner fighters but was shot twice in the stomach. The soldier has not seen him since, nor three other friends taken away at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i810\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-md0xev-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<figure style=\"width: 976px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-1drmwog-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/EA5A\/production\/_119649995_embbe.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Phone image of dead relative\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">IMAGE COPYRIGHT \/ AFP\/ A Libyan villager shows images of a relative who was killed. The villager says he survived himself by playing dead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1rnnz6t-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\"><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline2\">The Samsung computer tablet also provides evidence of the mercenaries&#8217; involvement in the mining and booby-trapping of civilian areas.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Placing landmines without marking them is a war crime.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i86\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-ve3352-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">The revealing Samsung tablet<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The tablet was left behind by an unknown Wagner fighter after the group&#8217;s fighters retreated from areas south of Tripoli in spring 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Its contents include maps in Russian of the frontline, giving confirmation of Wagner&#8217;s significant presence and an unprecedented insight into the group&#8217;s operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">There is drone footage and codenames of Wagner fighters, at least one of whom the BBC believes it has identified. The tablet is now in a secure location.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i810\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-md0xev-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<figure style=\"width: 976px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-1drmwog-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9C3A\/production\/_119649993_tablet-still.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Military maps on the Samsung tablet\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">IMAGE COPYRIGHT \/ AFP\/ Military maps in Russian on the Samsung tablet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-ve3352-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">The &#8216;shopping list&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A comprehensive list of weapons and military equipment is included in a 10-page document dated 19 January 2020, given to the BBC by a Libyan intelligence source and probably recovered from a Wagner location.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The document indicates who may be funding and backing the operation. It lists materiel needed for the &#8220;completion of military objectives&#8221; &#8211; including four tanks, hundreds of Kalashnikov rifles and a state-of-the-art radar system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A military analyst told the BBC that some of the weapons technology would only be available from the Russian military. Another expert, a specialist on the Wagner group, said the list pointed to the involvement of Dmitry Utkin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">He is the ex-Russian military intelligence man believed to have founded Wagner and given it its name (his own former call-sign). The BBC tried to contact Dmitry Utkin but has received no reply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">And in\u00a0our visual breakdown of the &#8220;shopping list&#8221; and another document, the expert says the words Evro Polis and General Director suggest the involvement of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich businessman close to President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The US Treasury sanctioned Evro Polis in 2018, calling it a Russian company contracted to &#8220;protect&#8221; Syrian oil fields that were &#8220;owned or controlled&#8221; by Mr Prigozhin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Investigations by Western journalists have linked Mr Prigozhin to Wagner. He has always denied any link to Evro Polis or Wagner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A spokesperson told the BBC that Yevgeny Prigozhin has nothing to do with Evro Polis or Wagner. Mr Prigozhin commented that he had not heard anything on the violation of human rights in Libya by Russians: &#8220;I am sure that this is an absolute lie.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Russia&#8217;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the BBC it is doing &#8220;its utmost to promote a ceasefire and a political settlement to the crisis in Libya.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The ministry added that details about Wagner in Libya are mostly based on &#8220;rigged data&#8221; and were aimed at &#8220;discrediting Russia&#8217;s policy&#8221; in Libya.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i86\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-ve3352-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">What is Wagner? Its ex-fighters speak<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Officially, it does not exist &#8211; but up to 10,000 people are believed to have taken at least one contract with Wagner since it emerged fighting alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">About 1,000 Wagner men are estimated to have fought with Gen Khalifa Haftar in Libya from 2019 to 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The BBC in Russia asked one of the ex-fighters to describe Wagner. He replied: &#8220;It is a structure, aimed at promoting the interests of the state beyond our country&#8217;s borders.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">As for its fighters, he said they were either &#8220;professionals of war&#8221;, people looking for a job, or romantics looking to serve their country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The other ex-fighter told the BBC there were no clear rules of conduct. If a captured prisoner had no knowledge to pass on, or could not work as a &#8220;slave&#8221;, then &#8220;the result is obvious&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Andrey Chuprygin, an expert working with the Russia International Council, said the stance of the Russian government was &#8211; &#8220;let them join this thing, and we&#8217;ll see what the result is. If it works out well, we can use it to our advantage. If it turns out badly, then we had nothing to do with it&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i810\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-md0xev-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1exovz1-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-1drmwog-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 976w\" alt=\"2px presentational grey line\" width=\"640\" height=\"2\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i810\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-md0xev-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-1drmwog-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/47CA\/production\/_119887381_libya_tripoli_tarhuna_10_08_21_2x640-nc.png\" alt=\"Map of Libya\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1200\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">IMAGE COPYRIGHT \/ AFP\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i86\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-ve3352-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">Libya &#8211; a decade of turmoil<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Downfall of Gaddafi in 2011<\/b>: Col Muammar Gaddafi&#8217;s more than four decades of rule end in an Arab Spring uprising. He tries to flee but is captured and killed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">The country splinters:\u00a0<\/b>After\u00a0<b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">2014<\/b>, major competing factions emerge in the east and west<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">The advance on Tripoli in April 2019:<\/b>\u00a0Gen Haftar, leader of the eastern forces,\u00a0advances on Tripoli and the UN-backed government there. Both sides get\u00a0military and diplomatic support\u00a0from different regional powers, despite a UN arms embargo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i87\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18snukc-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Ceasefire in\u00a0<\/b><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">October 2020:<\/b>\u00a0Then in\u00a0<b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">early 2021\u00a0<\/b>a new unity government is chosen and sworn in, to take the nation to elections in December. Foreign fighters and mercenaries were supposed to have left, but thousands remain.<\/p>\n<p>SOURCE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-africa-58009514\">BBC NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new BBC investigation has revealed the scale of operations by a shadowy Russian mercenary group in Libya&#8217;s civil war, which includes links to war crimes and the Russian military. A Samsung tablet left by a fighter for the Wagner group exposes its key role &#8211; as well as traceable fighter codenames. And the BBC [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[216,45],"tags":[1045,595,1044,126],"class_list":{"0":"post-2062","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-africa","8":"category-top-stories","9":"tag-khalifa-haftar","10":"tag-libya","11":"tag-libya-crisis","12":"tag-russia"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Wagner: Scale of Russian mercenary mission in Libya exposed - News 25<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news25.org\/wagner-scale-of-russian-mercenary-mission-in-libya-exposed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wagner: Scale of Russian mercenary mission in Libya exposed - News 25\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A new BBC investigation has revealed the scale of operations by a shadowy Russian mercenary group in Libya&#8217;s civil war, which includes links to war crimes and the Russian military. 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