Led by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group has played a significant role in Russia’s military operations, particularly in Ukraine.

Who is Dmitry Utkin?

Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian intelligence officer, has emerged as a key figure and co-founder of the Wagner Group, a notorious private military company involved in conflicts across the globe.

Utkin’s role within the Wagner Group and his relationship with Prigozhin have garnered attention as a power struggle unfolds between the group and the Kremlin.

The Wagner Group, under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin, gained prominence through its involvement in the conflicts in Crimea and eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014. Since then, the group has been deployed to various conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, including the Syrian Civil War.

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The Wagner Group has proven indispensable to the Kremlin, but recent tensions between Prigozhin and the Russian government have led to a curtailment of the group’s activities.

Dmitry Utkin, also known as Wagner’s callsign, played a crucial role as a co-founder and top commander within the Wagner Group. As a former Russian intelligence officer, Utkin brought military expertise and leadership to the group.

However, an apparent power struggle between Prigozhin and the Kremlin has strained their relationship. Utkin has been at the center of this conflict, with Prigozhin accusing the Russian defense ministry of deceiving President Vladimir Putin about the group’s activities.

The Wagner Group, including Utkin, has faced numerous allegations of human rights abuses and brutal tactics in conflicts such as Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and other countries. Reports of summary executions and violence against prisoners have raised international concerns. The group’s activities have prompted calls for classifying it as a terrorist organization by various political entities.

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The escalating tensions between Prigozhin and the Russian government, along with Utkin’s alleged involvement, have significant implications for Russia’s political landscape and the ongoing conflicts where the Wagner Group is active.