The Ministry of Defence yesterday said Wagner is \u0027lowering recruitment standards and hiring convicts,\u0027 adding that \u0027very limited training is made available to…
Wagner, said to be operated by Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s former chef, sends secret fighting groups abroad to look after Russian interests.Russian military hunts for recruits at Siberian half-marathon in desperate bid for manpower
The Ministry of Defence yesterday said Wagner is “lowering recruitment standards and hiring convicts,” adding that “very limited training is made available to new recruits.” The recruitment drive has resorted to using roadside billboards and social media. Wagner’s account on Telegram called “The Reverse Side of the Medal” – which has 290,000 subscribers – shows photos and videos set to rock music of fighters holding modern rifles and promising travel and adventure.Article contentWagner is hiring convicts and formerly blacklisted individuals, potentially impacting its effectiveness, the U.K. Defense Ministry said.Wagner mercenaries are seen posing with sledgehammers, a nod to their reputed brutality.
After two weeks of training, recruits go to Ukraine – a potentially attractive option for young men looking to escape provincial Russia.