Russia’s Wagner ‘to be designated as terrorist group’ in the UK | World News

Headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich oligarch sometimes nicknamed ‘Putin’s chef’ because he provided catering for the Kremlin, the group has most recently been heavily involved in Russia’s efforts to capture Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine.

What was once a city of 70,000 has been under Russian attack for more than nine months, with Wagner leading repeated attempts to advance.

Though it is supposedly a private military company, in reality, it is viewed as a de facto extension of the Russian army.

Most recently, its mercenaries have been accused of being behind a number of Isis-style executions of Ukrainians.

Footage shared on social media shows the for-hire soldiers beheading prisoners of war, using knives to cut their throats and then break their spines.

Earlier on Tuesday, Putin used Moscow’s Victory Day parade to accuse the West of unleashing a ‘real war’ on the country with its ‘untamed ambitions’.

Meanwhile, foreign secretary James Cleverly stressed that international allies must continue supporting Ukraine to uphold the principle that ‘powerful nations cannot invade their neighbours with impunity’.

Speaking on a visit to the US, Mr Cleverly said: ‘Things are complicated, things are messy, things are difficult, things will get scary.

‘We will expect to hear escalatory words coming out of Vladimir Putin’s lips – we need to be ready for that, we need to have the resolve to continue to do the right thing, notwithstanding those comments.’

Labour said in February it wanted ministers to follow the US’ lead after labelling Wagner a ‘significant transnational criminal organisation’.

In a joint statement, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘The Wagner Group is responsible for the appalling atrocities in Ukraine and across the world.

‘No-one in the UK should be allowed to belong to the Wagner group, support it or promote it.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.