Tag

Private Military Contractors

All articles tagged with #private military contractors

military-and-security2 days ago•23 min saved

UFC Veteran Tim Kennedy Wounded in Congo Ambush Linked to Erik Prince's Firm

Former UFC fighter and Green Beret Tim Kennedy was shot three times in the leg during a September 17 ambush in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was working for Vectus Global, a private military firm led by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, on a contract to protect mining revenues and collect taxes for the Congolese government. The attack killed former New Zealand special operations soldier Justin Conaglen and resulted in approximately 20 casualties. Kennedy has been medically evacuated to the United States and is reported to be in stable condition, though details of the incident remain unconfirmed by official channels.

via MMA Mania|

#congo-conflict #erik-prince #military-and-security

military-and-conflict3 days ago•0 min saved

Green Beret and MMA Star Tim Kennedy Wounded in Congo Ambush That Killed NZ Veteran

Former UFC fighter and Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy was reportedly wounded in a September 17 ambush in the Democratic Republic of Congo that killed a former New Zealand special operations soldier. The incident involves private military contractors linked to Erik Prince’s Vectus Global, which operates a contract with the Congolese government to protect mining revenues and combat smuggling. While Kennedy was medically evacuated to the United States, the New Zealand veteran Justin Conaglen was killed, and a third contractor was also injured. Details remain unconfirmed by official sources, but former Delta Force operator Brent Tucker described the event as an ambush on a three-man element.

via Stars and Stripes|

#democratic-republic-of-congo #erik-prince #justin-conaglen

world4 months ago•121 min saved

UAE-Linked Colombian PMCs Tied to Sudan’s RSF, HRW Reports

Human Rights Watch documents a UAE-backed operation that recruited, trained, and deployed Colombian PMCs to Sudan to support the RSF, with transit through UAE bases and hubs in Libya, Somalia, and Chad, and continued presence around El Fasher. By 2024-2025, hundreds of Colombian contractors fought alongside RSF forces and helped train recruits, including alleged child soldiers; the report highlights diverted UAE-sold equipment and bases, suggesting potential aiding-and-abetting war crimes and urging UN/EU/US investigations and sanctions. UAE denies involvement, but HRW calls for accountability and a broader arms embargo enforcement.

via Human Rights Watch|

#colombia #private-military-contractors #rsf-rapid-support-forces

world1 year ago•7 min saved

Controversy and Allegations Surround US Mercenaries and Security Firms in Gaza

The article argues that American private military contractors like UG Solutions operating in Gaza are effectively mercenaries, engaging in combat-like activities for personal gain and working for foreign entities, raising concerns about the ethical and legal implications of their involvement in conflict zones.

via Responsible Statecraft|

#gaza #humanitarian-aid #mercenaries

world1 year ago•9 min saved

Haiti Turns to Drones and Allies to Fight Gang Violence

Haiti has contracted Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, to lead a secret military effort against gangs, including drone strikes and potential mercenary deployment, amid a worsening security crisis and limited police capacity.

via The New York Times|

#blackwater #erik-prince #gang-violence

international-affairs3 years ago•3 min saved

The Future of Wagner Group: Mercenary Fighters and Prigozhin's Successor

Following the death of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, a mercenary force led by Russian military intelligence, Redut, is expected to fill the void left by the group. Redut, controlled by Russian intelligence, is likely to take over Wagner's missions and business assets. Other private Russian security firms, including Convoy, Fakel, and Potok, are also vying for the opportunity. Prigozhin's death has led to a recruitment drive by Redut, with former Wagner leaders joining their ranks.

via New York Post |

#international-affairs #private-military-contractors #redut

international-politics3 years ago•2 min saved

Putin Requires Wagner Mercenaries to Pledge Loyalty to Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree requiring all employees of Wagner and other Russian private military contractors to swear allegiance to the Russian state. The decree applies to those involved in military activities in Ukraine and serving in territorial defense units. This move comes after the presumed deaths of Wagner leaders in a plane crash and is seen as an attempt by Putin to reassert control over the group. Analysts suggest that the decree aims to prevent future crises and tighten control over Wagner. The oath includes a promise to strictly follow commanders' orders and is seen as a message to both military intelligence and the fighters themselves. The impact of the decree on Wagner fighters, who currently lack an obvious leader, remains uncertain.

via BBC|

#international-politics #oath-of-allegiance #private-military-contractors

world-news3 years ago•4 min saved

Putin's Offer to Wagner Mercenaries: Unity or Disbandment?

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the Wagner mercenaries the option to continue serving as a single unit under the same commander, known as Gray Hair, following their abortive revolt last month. Putin discussed their actions in Ukraine and offered various alternatives for future service during a meeting attended by 35 Wagner commanders, including the group's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, Prigozhin quickly rejected the proposal. Putin also mentioned that Wagner has operated without a legal basis, as there is no law on private military organizations in Russia. The disarming of Wagner reflects Russian authorities' efforts to defuse the threat they posed and may signal an end to the group's operations in Ukraine.

via The Associated Press|

#mercenaries #private-military-contractors #ukraine

international-relations3 years ago•3 min saved

The Future of Wagner and Russia's Presence in Africa

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the Wagner Group's operations in Mali and the Central African Republic will continue despite the failed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the mercenaries, against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The paramilitary group is seen by Western governments as Russia's armed foreign policy apparatus. Wagner offers its services and help to prop up anti-Western governments in exchange for access to natural resources. The group exercises influence in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

via POLITICO Europe|

#africa #foreign-policy #international-relations

world-news3 years ago•5 min saved

The Rise and Losses of Russia's Wagner Group Leader in Ukraine War

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a private military contractor made up of convicted Russian criminals, has become the tip of the spear for Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Prigozhin, who has a complex history and ambitions, has transformed himself from Putin's chef to a warlord, using social media to accelerate his brand and appeal to new recruits with ultranationalist propaganda. The Wagner Group serves as Russia's military proxy in far-flung areas of the world and has links to conflicts in Africa. Despite his audacious outbursts against the Kremlin elite, Prigozhin's power only exists at the mercy of Putin.

via PBS NewsHour|

#private-military-contractors #russia #ukraine

international-relations3 years ago•3 min saved

Prigozhin's Wagner forces cede control of Bakhmut to Russian army.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russian private military contractor Wagner, claimed that his forces are handing over control of Bakhmut to the Russian military. However, it is not possible to independently verify this claim. Meanwhile, Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian occupation forces is already underway, according to a top presidential advisor. In other news, Russia has expelled five Swedish diplomats and announced the closure of its consulate in Göteborg in response to Sweden's decision to declare five Russian foreign mission employees "personae non grata."

via NBC News|

#counteroffensive #diplomatic-tensions #international-relations

conflict3 years ago•1 min saved

Russian Army faces intense combat and surrenders to drone in Bakhmut, Ukraine.

The head of Russia's private Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has accused Moscow's conventional army of "fleeing" from its positions near the eastern Ukraine hotspot town of Bakhmut. He claimed that Ukrainian forces had captured positions at a reservoir and on tactical heights around Bakhmut. Prigozhin has repeatedly claimed that the Russian Defense Ministry was refusing to deliver ammunition and has accused its chiefs in vitriolic statements.

via The Moscow Times|

#bakhmut #conflict #private-military-contractors

crime3 years ago•1 min saved

Former Wagner Group member seeks asylum in Norway after legal troubles.

Andrey Medvedev, a former contractor of the Wagner Group, has been sentenced to 14 days in jail for disorderly conduct and carrying an air gun in a public place by a court in Norway. Medvedev, who is seeking asylum in Norway, was acquitted of committing violence against police officers during his arrest. He fled to Norway earlier this year and has said he would fear for his life if he were sent back to Russia. Medvedev said he was willing to testify about any possible war crimes he witnessed, though he denied participating in any himself.

via Al Jazeera English|

#andrey-medvedev #asylum-seeker #crime

crime3 years ago•1 min saved

Wagner Group ex-member sentenced for resisting arrest in Norway

A former contractor of the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company, has been sentenced to 14 days in jail in Norway for disorderly conduct and carrying an air gun in public. Andrey Medvedev, who is seeking asylum in Norway, was acquitted of committing violence against police officers during his arrest. Medvedev fled to Norway earlier this year and has said he would fear for his life if sent back to Russia. He has offered to testify about any possible war crimes he witnessed while working for the Wagner Group.

via The Associated Press|

#asylum #crime #norway

crime3 years ago•1 min saved

Former Wagner Group member faces trial in Norway for resisting arrest.

Andrey Medvedev, a former member of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, has admitted charges of resisting arrest after a bar brawl and carrying an air gun in Norway. He has pleaded guilty to the charges and fears for his life if he returns to Russia. Medvedev is seeking asylum in Norway and is willing to testify about any war crimes he witnessed while working for the Wagner Group.

via Fox News|

#asylum #crime #norway