Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Russian Mercenary Group Wagner and Threats Against Moscow

US lawmakers have expressed concern at the emergence of Russian mercenary group Wagner, a private militia led by former Putin loyalist Yevgeny Prigozhin. The group, which was already known to have fought on behalf of the Kremlin in Ukraine and Syria, has broken away from the Russian military leadership to threaten attacks on Moscow following the seizure of a number of strategically important southern Russian territories, including Rostov-on-Don.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan called the development "the clearest public confirmation of the folly of Putin's invasion of Ukraine," whilst fellow Democrat Jason Crow said Ukraine "should move fast to capitalise" on the upheaval.