Prigozhin vows to make Belarusian army second best
July 19, BPN. Telegram channels linked to the Wagner private military company have released a video of its chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, pledging to train Belarusian troops so that they will be the second-best army in the world. He did not specify what army is the world’s best.
Prigozhin described developments at the Russian-Ukrainian front as disgrace, noting that Wagner should stay away from the tussle.
“We should wait for a moment to show our best. That is why the decision was made that we will be here, in Byelorussia, for a while,” he said.
He noted that Wagner soldiers had received a hero’s welcome in Belarus.
Prigozhin said that Sergei, call sign Pioner, is in charge of the Wagner contingent in Belarus. In 2021, media reported that he was in charge of the Wagner grouping in Lybia.
The Belarusian defense ministry and the Wagner Group have designed a road map for the Russian military company to share its experience with Belarusian troops in the near future, the ministry said in a statement on July 14.
Wagner Group members are already training Belarusian territorial troops near Asipovičy, Mahiloŭ region, according to earlier reports.
The reservists learn movements on a battlefield, tactical shooting, engineering, and tactical medicine.
The Kremlin-linked private military contractor announced its relocation to Belarus in early July after a feud with the Russian defense ministry and a failed mutiny. It is unclear how many Wagner fighters have actually arrived in the country.
In January 2023, the United States designated Wagner as a transnational criminal group.
- SocietyBelarus climber missing in Russia found deadThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus-EU border car queue shrinksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBySol raises €20K for children of political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNew Viasna report says number of political prisoners criticalThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCyberpartisans reports hacking BMZ websiteThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus opposition hails Trump’s stand on political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyTrial of journalist Iljaš adjourned until September 12The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus holds 32 foreign nationals on political groundsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarusians register diaspora association in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityPoland extends no-go zone at Belarus border for 90 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyŁukašenka wants crypto legislation fine-tunedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry adds 68 names to list of “extremists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician sues ex-lawyer accusing him of sexual harassmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights groups recognize 14 political prisoners, including a BritonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityPolish military official: Shield-East to feature modern defense toolsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ deficit in goods trade widens to $3.6 billion in January-JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+