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[Random_Dragon]

There's some hope that it may actually work better than last time, but as I mentioned before we're already at the point where dangerous precedents are being set, and tons of innocents are losing their homes and lives, so even if everything goes right this is going to have repercussions, I fear. :/

[brewer bob]

UK Ministry of Defence says that Wagner Group mercenaries have been deployed to Ukraine.

Spoiler: from BBC live updates (click to show/hide)

UK's MoD says Russia's Wagner group sent to Ukraine

Russia has deployed mercenaries from the infamous Wagner Group to eastern Ukraine, the UK's Ministry of Defence says.

In its latest operational update, the MoD said that the group is expected to deploy more than 1,000 personnel - including senior leaders of the group - to "undertake combat operations" in Ukraine.

"Due to heavy losses and a largely stalled invasion, Russia has likely been forced to reprioritise Wagner personnel for Ukraine at the expense of operations in Africa and Syria," the MoD added.

The Wagner group is considered one of Russia's most secretive organisations. Officially, it doesn't exist, but up to 10,000 operatives are believed to have taken at least one contract with the group over the last seven years to go to hotspots including Syria, Libya and the Central African Republic.

[EuchreJack]

...now that Russia has set its precedent, other countries can deputize their mercenaries as Ukrainian and sent them over.  Bad move, Russia!

[heydude6]

If we're talking about mercenaries, let me share you some insider info. According to a Ukrainian soldier I know, Belorussians have apparently joined the war, but they're doing it unofficially. Dunno if it's mercenaries, patriotic early volunteers, or some secret conscription effort, but the Ukrainian army has had a few confrontations with Belorussian troops.

Allegedly though. As much as I like my guy, I find it hard to believe that this would have been kept a secret if it were true. And the evidence he used to back up his claim was relatively shaky (something to do with Belorussian shell casings).

Take this news with massive salt. I'm only posting this so I can say "I knew it!" if an official story ever breaks out.

...now that Russia has set its precedent, other countries can deputize their mercenaries as Ukrainian and sent them over.  Bad move, Russia!

I'm confused, what do you mean. From the quote, it seems like the Wagner's are Russian. Aren't they?

[Robsoie]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/unprotected-russian-soldiers-disturbed-radioactive-dust-chernobyls-red-forest-2022-03-28/

One of the employees said he had spoken to some of the rank-and-file Russian soldiers at the plant.
"When they were asked if they knew about the 1986 catastrophe, the explosion of the fourth block (of the Chernobyl plant), they did not have a clue. They had no idea what kind of a facility they were at," he said.
"We talked to regular soldiers. All we heard from them was 'It's critically important infrastructure'. That was it," the man said.

Wow.

[EuchreJack]

...now that Russia has set its precedent, other countries can deputize their mercenaries as Ukrainian and sent them over.  Bad move, Russia!

I'm confused, what do you mean. From the quote, it seems like the Wagner's are Russian. Aren't they?

From what I understand, the Wagner's are Russian.  Yet as deniable mercenaries, it sets a precedent.  If another country teaches their mercenaries to speak Ukrainian, they can use this to send mercenaries to support Ukraine.  It is easier for a country to organize mercenaries than volunteers as deniable manpower assistance.

[brewer bob]

From the quote, it seems like the Wagner's are Russian. Aren't they?

Yeah, they're Russian, but the Russian government denies being affiliated to the group. It's been said to be Putin's private army and that it's just a disguised branch of the Russian Ministry of Defence used in foreign conflicts (granting plausible deniability).

Edit: Their leading figure Dmitry Utkin allegedly likes the Third Reich and has neo-nazi connections (not to mention his nazi tattoos).

[Lord Shonus]

Wagner are the guys they use to attack US positions in the Middle East without officially doing so. Some of you might recall an incident during the Obama admin where Obama called Putin up to complain about an attack, and Putin insisted Russia was uninvolved. So Obama authorized local commands to wipe out the attacking force with airpower, and Putin couldn't protest after his denials. That was Wagner.


Wagner are execrable soldiers in any real combat, and they're unlikely to be able to warcrime worse than the Russians are already doing. The odds of them getting annihilated without accomplishing much are high.

[Random_Dragon]

Didn't they already get sent in to try and assassinate Zelensky and got their shit pushed in?

[brewer bob]

Didn't they already get sent in to try and assassinate Zelensky and got their shit pushed in?

There were three attempts of which at least one was allegedly by the Warner Group (Chechen spec ops were also involved in some attempts), iirc.

[EuchreJack]

"Meet the finest in deniable Russian Assets, our elite forces that will win us this conflict!"
"I believe the American Term is...Cannon Fodder." 

Seriously, the only thing Russia needs to complete their Nazi Impression is Wunderweapons.

[ChairmanPoo]

You mean like their much touted hypersonic missile?

[The_Explorer]

You mean like their much touted hypersonic missile?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV30irsal-w

(its a humorous thing for dark times, but ...its (probably) pretty fitting really at the same time)

[hector13]

Didn't they already get sent in to try and assassinate Zelensky and got their shit pushed in?

There were three attempts of which at least one was allegedly by the Warner Group (Chechen spec ops were also involved in some attempts), iirc.

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot?

[heydude6]

You mean like their much touted hypersonic missile?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV30irsal-w

(its a humorous thing for dark times, but ...its (probably) pretty fitting really at the same time)

God, that was amazing! Is the rest of the movie like that? I've always heard that The Dictator was a bad movie, but how can it be with jokes like that?