{"id":2646,"date":"2023-09-20T13:46:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T10:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/?post_type=longreads&p=2646"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","slug":"as-wagner-fighters-leave-lukasenka-emerges-as-loser","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/2646\/","title":{"rendered":"As Wagner fighters leave, \u0141uka\u0161enka emerges as loser"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\u041b\u0443\u043a\u0430\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e\n
\n \n
\n Photo: Alak\u00adsan\u00addar \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press office<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Workers are dismantling Wagner Group mercenaries\u2019 tent camp near Asipovi\u010dy, Minsk region with less than 1,000 private army soldiers left in Belarus. The force is no longer a threat to Poland and other neighbors. Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has not reaped any benefits from their presence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are the most peace-loving nation on Earth,” the Belarusian ruler told his supporters at Minsk-Arena, a large sports complex in the capital city, on September 17. “We are not brandishing nuclear weapons, Wagner units, etc. We are not threatening anyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler has been uttering nuclear threats almost in every public appearance in July and August. He repeatedly pledged to retaliate with a nuclear strike for aggression. Unfortunately for him, he can no longer use Wagner mercenaries to intimidate the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wagner presence diminishing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The satellite images showing the contraction of Wagner Group mercenaries\u2019 camp in Belarus must have assuaged concerns of the country\u2019s NATO neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less than 1,000 Russian mercenaries remain in Belarus, Ukraine\u2019s National Resistance Center said on September 18. A few hundred mercenaries are training Belarusian police officers and soldiers, while the others are just hanging around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the private military company\u2019s failed mutiny in June, \u0141uka\u0161enka and his propaganda trumpeted the benefits of Wagner fighters\u2019 combat experience for Belarusian troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group relocated to Belarus after the Belarusian ruler had persuaded Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to call off his army\u2019s march on Moscow. It was obvious at the time that Minsk could not afford to host the foreign soldiers on Belarusian soil for long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prigozhin\u2019s death in a plane crash last month accelerated the Wagner Group\u2019s collapse. Some fighters signed contracts with the Russian regular army and national guard as well as with other private military companies controlled by the Kremlin and its secret services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who have not yet found new jobs are staying at the camp near Asipovi\u010dy. Their morale must be low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empty bravado<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“Wagner lived, Wagner lives, Wagner is to live in Belarus, no matter how much someone does not want it,” \u0141uka\u0161enka declared on August 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He failed to take the opportunity, which presented itself with Prigozhin\u2019s death, to ease tensions with Warsaw, Vilnius and Riga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 25, he claimed that he could mobilize up to 10,000 Wagner fighters in a matter of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He does not want to improve ties with the European Union and NATO in principle. He is extremely hostile toward the West and critically dependent on Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow uses its \u201cyounger brother\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The relocation of mercenaries to Belarus was a manifestation of that dependence. It is still a mystery whether \u0141ukashenka took the initiative or he was simply used by the Kremlin. Belarus definitely has not benefited from their presence. It was just a gamble by the autocrat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka was initially very excited and was bragging about how he saved Vladimir Putin and Russia. The Russian president was confused and humiliated by the mutiny, but later showed who runs the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prigozhin is obviously a loser. \u0141uka\u0161enka had his moment of glory, but has eventually emerged as a loser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relations with EU smashed into pieces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What \u0141uka\u0161enka sees as a benefit in the Wagner Group relocation is that he can hire experienced instructors for soldiers. But he could hire instructors without inviting thousands of mercenaries to the Asipovi\u010dy tent camp. And the Wagner instructors may leave if the defense ministry does not offer them lucrative contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some mercenaries have been offered to join a Belarusian private security company, Ukraine’s National Resistance Center reported earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk plans to turn the GuardService security company, stationed in the town of Marjina Horka, into a private military contractor, according to the center with ties to the Ukrainian defense ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GuardService (TAA HardServis) was incorporated in November 2019 to protect firms and individuals. Seven months later, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka authorized its staff to carry and use weapons. The company has been under US sanctions since December 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin was annoyed by \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s bragging, still he may reward his \u201cyounger brother\u201d for his role in halting the mutiny. He coddles \u0141uka\u0161enka simply because he is short of friends internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wagner Group has been designated by the United States as a transnational criminal organization. Opposition politicians point to dealings between \u0141uka\u0161enka and Wagner mercenaries to illustrate the Belarusian ruler\u2019s toxicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wagner presence places a greater strain on Belarus\u2019 already fraught relationships with the European Union and NATO. Neighbors are considering a radical move, such as sealing borders with Belarus. Although the group\u2019s dissolution has somewhat assuaged their concerns, relations with neighbors may never recover because of the lack of trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chasm between Belarus and Europe and the West is becoming deeper and wider.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Workers are dismantling Wagner Group mercenaries\u2019 tent camp near Asipovi\u010dy, Minsk region with less than 1,000 private army soldiers left in Belarus. The force is no longer a threat to Poland and other neighbors. Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has not reaped any benefits from their presence. \u201cWe are the most peace-loving nation on Earth,” the Belarusian ruler […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":2873,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-2646","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAs Wagner fighters leave, \u0141uka\u0161enka emerges as loser | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Workers are dismantling Wagner Group mercenaries\u2019 tent camp near Asipovi\u010dy, Minsk region with less than 1,000 private army soldiers left in Belarus. 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