Twitter thread debunks Wagner using Bellingcat’s (CIA sponsored outlet) report. The only claim to Wagner having neo Nazis is a picture of a man with swastika tattoos that looks similar to a man named Utkin who supposedly works for a “Wagner” PMC.
“Wagner” is essentially a CIA shorthand to Russian mercenary groups. The same way Al-Qaeda was a CIA shorthand for their Islamic shock troops in Asia. Wagner came about as a counter to the neo Nazis the US used to overthrow Ukraine and invade Donbas. When people started exposing that Ukraine was using Nazis, Wagner was created to muddy the moral waters, because “Russia has neo Nazis too!” Sure, most white countries do, but they don’t come close to state power (or paralegal power for that matter).
Wagner, which is now an umbrella term for Russian mercs in general, is a big thorn in the side of Washington because they’ve been effective at defending the Donbas and stopping ISIS in Syria. Some Russian mercs have taken ownership over the name and refer to themselves with it, unofficially.
I’ve seen Russian state media openly state something like “Wagner Group was essential in the liberation of Soledar” in their news media (RIA Novosti, Sputnik and TASS), so I think they are very real indeed
But real in what sense? There is no official group called Wagner PMC. Does Russia use mercenaries that are referred to as Wagners though? Yes. It’s like you didn’t even read the comment you’re responding to.
Thanks for the links! I have definitely seen the pic(s) of the person with swastika that was making the rounds early in the conflict. Given how much the stated mission is to de-Nazi-fy the Donbas and Ukraine, it would be very bad if Russia and/or the (at the time) new republics were to be openly fighting Nazis with other Nazis (though far-right/fascist groups are more than willing to fight their peers in other nations). Especially since they knew that the western nations and media would zero in on them to add to discrediting the stated goals. It would be great optics for Russia/Donbas to make it a point to publicly drop anyone that dare claim to be on the “pro-Russia” side while sporting Nazi/fascist tattoos or paraphernalia. Though I also guess the “pro-Ukraine no matter what” outlets would then just claim that it was fake and that the ones getting dealt with were random Ukraine citizens used for show trials (while then bringing up the purges under Stalin). Even with proof it would be twisted and mixed up to make it impossible to tell unless you were literally able to be there to see it all while being in multiple places at the same time.
Bourgeois source: Wagner doesn’t exist
Twitter thread debunks Wagner using Bellingcat’s (CIA sponsored outlet) report. The only claim to Wagner having neo Nazis is a picture of a man with swastika tattoos that looks similar to a man named Utkin who supposedly works for a “Wagner” PMC.
“Wagner” is essentially a CIA shorthand to Russian mercenary groups. The same way Al-Qaeda was a CIA shorthand for their Islamic shock troops in Asia. Wagner came about as a counter to the neo Nazis the US used to overthrow Ukraine and invade Donbas. When people started exposing that Ukraine was using Nazis, Wagner was created to muddy the moral waters, because “Russia has neo Nazis too!” Sure, most white countries do, but they don’t come close to state power (or paralegal power for that matter).
Wagner, which is now an umbrella term for Russian mercs in general, is a big thorn in the side of Washington because they’ve been effective at defending the Donbas and stopping ISIS in Syria. Some Russian mercs have taken ownership over the name and refer to themselves with it, unofficially.
I’ve seen Russian state media openly state something like “Wagner Group was essential in the liberation of Soledar” in their news media (RIA Novosti, Sputnik and TASS), so I think they are very real indeed
But real in what sense? There is no official group called Wagner PMC. Does Russia use mercenaries that are referred to as Wagners though? Yes. It’s like you didn’t even read the comment you’re responding to.
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Thanks for the links! I have definitely seen the pic(s) of the person with swastika that was making the rounds early in the conflict. Given how much the stated mission is to de-Nazi-fy the Donbas and Ukraine, it would be very bad if Russia and/or the (at the time) new republics were to be openly fighting Nazis with other Nazis (though far-right/fascist groups are more than willing to fight their peers in other nations). Especially since they knew that the western nations and media would zero in on them to add to discrediting the stated goals. It would be great optics for Russia/Donbas to make it a point to publicly drop anyone that dare claim to be on the “pro-Russia” side while sporting Nazi/fascist tattoos or paraphernalia. Though I also guess the “pro-Ukraine no matter what” outlets would then just claim that it was fake and that the ones getting dealt with were random Ukraine citizens used for show trials (while then bringing up the purges under Stalin). Even with proof it would be twisted and mixed up to make it impossible to tell unless you were literally able to be there to see it all while being in multiple places at the same time.
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