Fighters from the Russian mercenary group said they were recruited from jail, sent to fight in Ukraine and shown violent videos of alleged traitors being executed.
first seen supporting separatists in ukraine in 2014, the russian wagner group has been infamous for operating mercenaries in other countries, including syria and libya. one wagner fighter told us about his involvement in the current invasion. his words have been voiced by an actor. there have been reports that there are around 400 wagner fighters in ukraine. a sign of desperation. it allows the russian government to keep the death toll down because they are not going to report the deaths of mercenaries within ukraine, nor are they going to report the deaths of syrians who may have gone over to volunteer to essentially serve as foreign fighters on behalf of vladimir putin.
has actively engaged in recruiting what many people consider mercenaries. hanan razek has the story. syrian fighters that reportedly want to go and fight in ukraine alongside the russian troops. and a warm welcome from the kremlin that says it has received more than 16,000 applications from middle eastern fighters. but the bbc has learned that russian mercenary fighters are already in ukraine. first seen supporting separatists in ukraine in 2013, the russian wagner group has been infamous for operating 2014, the russian wagner group has been infamous for operating mercenaries in other countries, including syria and libya. one wagner fighter told us about his involvement in the current invasion. his words have been voiced by an actor. there have been reports that there are around 400 wagner fighters