US think tank: Wagner Group lacks hardware to threaten Poland, Ukraine

July 24, BPN. There is no evidence that Wagner Group has the hardware to threaten Ukraine or Poland from Belarus, says a recent analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian mercenaries gave up heavy weapons in a deal with Moscow that allowed Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and some of his fighters to leave for Belarus, the Washington-based think tank noted.

Satellite images of the Wagner base in Belarus’ Mahiloŭ region taken on July 23 show mostly cars, small trucks and semi-trailers, the ISW noted.

“Wagner forces in Belarus pose no military threat to Poland or Ukraine. . . until and unless they are re-equipped with mechanized equipment,” the analysis stresses. “They pose no meaningful threat to NATO even then.”

At the same time, Alaksandar Łukašenka and Russian President Vladimir Putin have “amplified information operations targeting the West,” the ISW said.

Łukašenka used his July 23 meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg to threaten Poland.