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1. A former Wagner mercenary has spoken out about the brutality he witnessed in Ukraine, alleging that those who refused to fight were shot in front of newcomers.
2. There is a growing rift between Vladimir Putin’s official military and the off-the-books mercenary force that has achieved some gains in Ukraine.
3. Recruiting for tens of thousands of fighters in Russian jails, Wagner offers freedom and cash after a six-month tour, and their tactics involve using convicts as cannon fodder to storm Ukrainian positions with little fire support.
This article provides an overview of the current situation between Russia and Ukraine, focusing on the role of mercenaries in the conflict. The article is written from a neutral perspective, providing both sides of the story without taking sides or making any judgments. The author does an excellent job of presenting both sides equally and exploring all angles of the issue.
The article is well-researched and provides detailed information about the Wagner Group, its founders Dmitry Utkin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, as well as its tactics in Ukraine. It also includes quotes from Andrei Medvedev, a former Wagner mercenary who defected from Russia to Norway seeking asylum. The quotes provide insight into what it was like to be part of this group and how they treated those who refused to fight.
The article also includes analysis from CNN's Zachary B Wolf on the power dynamics between Putin's official military and Wagner Group, as well as an assessment by Ukrainian forces on Wagner's tactics which suggests they are using convicts as cannon fodder to storm Ukrainian positions with little fire support. This analysis provides valuable insight into how this conflict is playing out on the ground level and how it could potentially escalate if not addressed soon.
In terms of trustworthiness and reliability, this article appears to be unbiased and factual in its reporting. All claims are supported by evidence or quotes from reliable sources such as former mercenaries or US officials. The author also does an excellent job of exploring both sides equally without taking sides or making any judgments which adds to its credibility.