Howitzers handed over by the Wagner mercenary group to Russia’s Armed Forces
RUSSIA: Russia’s Defence Ministry said the haul included tanks, rocket launchers, heavy artillery, 2,500 tonnes of ammunition and some 20,000 small arms.
The Russian military announced on Wednesday that it has received military hardware from the Wagner mercenary group following its short-lived mutiny last month that challenged the Kremlin’s authority.
The major haul includes tanks, 2,500 tonnes of ammunition, and around 20,000 small arms.
“More than 2,000 pieces of equipment and weapons have been transferred,” Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement.
“Among the transferred equipment, dozens of units [which] have never been used in combat conditions.”
The ministry added that mobile rocket launchers and anti-aircraft systems had been transferred.
The disarming of Wagner reflects efforts by Russian authorities to defuse the threat posed by the group, appearing to confirm an end to its military operation in Ukraine.
The transfer of weapons comes amid speculation over the fate of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and the terms of a deal that ended his armed rebellion. He and his mercenaries were reportedly offered amnesty along with permission to move to Belarus. But there has since been doubt whether he is actually in Russia’s western neighbour.
On Monday, the Kremlin revealed Russian President Vladimir Putin had met Prigozhin, plus some 34 Wagner senior officials, just five days after the aborted mutiny. – EURONEWS
