Iraqi man dies fighting for Russian mercenary group in Ukraine

An Iraqi citizen fighting with Russia’s Wagner mercenary force died in Ukraine in April after being injured in the battle for Bakhmut. Abbas Abuthar Witwit was recruited by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin from prison in Russia. Witwit is believed to be the first confirmed case of a Middle East native to have died fighting in the war. Much of the fighting for Bakhmut has been undertaken by convicts recruited by Wagner from Russian prisons on the promise of a pardon if they survived six months at the front in Ukraine.