According to a recent intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense, British intelligence believes that a significant portion of Russia's Wagner mercenary group has been reassigned to serve in the Russian National Guard, known as the Rosgvardiya.
The update also states that the mercenary group has resumed active recruitment.
The intelligence update suggests that within the Rosgvardiya, there is a branch of Wagner that is likely led by Pavel Prigozhin, the son of the late owner of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a brief rebellion against the Russian military earlier this year, is presumed to have died in a plane crash in August near Moscow.
The fate of the Wagner mercenary group has been uncertain in recent months, with reports suggesting that some of its fighters have resumed work for the Russian government overseas or for other countries, such as Belarus.
In addition to Wagner elements joining the Rosgvardiya, the intelligence update also suggests that other groups of Wagner fighters have likely joined another Russian private military company called Redut. According to an investigation by Radio Free Europe, Redut is estimated to have around 7,000 personnel.
Furthermore, the update reveals that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced on November 1, 2023, that Wagner Group medics had joined the Chechen Akhmat special forces. Kadyrov had previously stated that 170 former Wagner fighters had already joined Akhmat.
The intelligence assessment concludes that the Russian state now has more direct control over Wagner Group activities and former personnel following the mutiny in July 2023 and the subsequent death of Wagner's leadership in August 2023.
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