The United States labeled the Russian mercenary group Wagner a “transnational criminal organization” and pledged to impose further sanctions on Friday.
Wagner “is a criminal organization that is continuing committing widespread atrocities and human rights abuses,” White House nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby mentioned, including that the Biden administration will impose financial penalties on the group and its “support network” subsequent week.
“These actions recognize the transcontinental threat that Wagner poses, including through its ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity,” mentioned Kirby.
“Our message to any company that is considering providing support to Wagner is simply this: Wagner is a criminal organization that is committing widespread atrocities and human rights abuses,” he added.
Wagner has some 50,000 personnel deployed in Ukraine with the intention to bolster Russia’s conflict effort there, in keeping with U.S. assessments. The agency has been pivotal to Russia’s latest positive aspects in Donbass and has been concerned in battle worldwide, together with in Libya, the Central African Republic and Mali.
On Thursday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group’s chief, mentioned his mercenaries “completely took control” of Kleshcheyevka, a key suburb of the town of Bakhmut by means of which Ukrainian troops had been equipped with weapons and navy tools.
Prigozhin claimed “fierce battles” continued round Kleshcheyevka, with the Ukrainians “clinging onto every meter of ground.”
“Contrary to various opinions that the AFU (armed forces of Ukraine) is fleeing from Artyomovsk (Russian name for Bakhmut), this is not the case. The AFU works clearly, smoothly. We have a lot to learn from them. But in any case, the units of the Wagner PMC are moving forward meter by meter. The settlement of Artyomovsk will be taken,” he mentioned.
