"Wagnerites" began returning to fight in Ukraine

Militants are returning to Ukraine both one by one and in small groups who are fighting against Ukraine on the side of various pro-Russian units. This is stated in a statement by the UK Defence Ministry.

It is noted that the exact status of the redeployed personnel is unclear.

It is likely that individuals have been transferred to units of the official forces of the Russian Defence Ministry and other PMCs," the British intelligence service said.

The British recalled that the group "Wagner" ceased participation in combat operations in Ukraine in the early summer of 2023, shortly before the failed mutiny and the subsequent death of the owner of "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin and other leaders in a plane crash.

As ISW experts emphasise, Ukrainian and Russian sources confirm the displacement of "Wagnerites" in the Bakhmut area.

Ukrainian and Russian confirmations about the dislocation of some former employees of the Wagner group in the Bakhmut neighbourhood indicate that Wagner is finding it difficult to carry out a coherent reform around the new leadership, the experts believe.

Analysts said the Wagnerites are concentrated in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk Region and suggested that their experience would be useful to the Russian occupiers in this sector, as many of them are familiar with the current front line and local Ukrainian tactics.

The Ukrainian military are convinced that Russia was pushed to such a decision by the lack of fighters. According to them, the occupiers are gathering troops from residents of the neighbouring districts.