Inside Prigozhin’s Wagner, Russia’s Secret War Company | WSJ Documentary

The Wall Street Journal’s latest documentary “Shadow Men: Inside Russia’s Secret War Company” goes deep inside the lethal global expansion of the Russian private military company Wagner - tracing the group's evolution from a small, guns-for-hire operation into a sprawling network of businesses that has been active on four continents.
Through interviews with current and former Wagner fighters, government insiders, victims of attacks and war crimes investigators, the film reveals how the group is hiding the flow of riches and resources through a complex network of front companies that ultimately connect to the Kremlin.
0:00 What is Wagner and who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?
3:36 How the Wagner Group operates
6:16 Wagner’s origins
10:36 A new business model in Syria
17:24 Wagner’s expansion into Africa
19:59 Wagner’s Africa playbook: guns and gold
27:13 The war in Ukraine, Wagner steps out of the shadows
36:09 Wagner’s future
#Wagner #Russia #WSJ

[@artemasward5842]

Maskim Borodin was a Russian reporter trying to help the Wagner Group widows after Wagner attacked American positions in Syria. When 200 Wagner mercenarys were killed in 15 minutes, because they were ordered to attacked over open terrain, Maskim Borodin started going to the funerals back in Russia and asking questions about getting combat pay for the widows. Maskim died when he fell off his balcony.

[@uceumice]

And Putin's regime are the people who tolerate, create and enjoy the violence created from the void of democratic and prevalence of uncivilized, autocratic, criminal, stubborn and unresponsive rule.

[@EvacuationRoute101]

@@TinaHenderson-cl9mb best comment!! ...and don't drink tea, not even with people who you consider your friends :)

[@mitchyoung93]

Why would a contractor get some sort of state benefit for his family if killed? It works thee same way in the US...stay in the military proper and get all kinds of extras or become a contractor and get more money up front but few to no benefits.

[@thegamelife9]

It was not 200 most of them where Syrian only 17 Wagner where killed well 30 injured 🤡 get your facts straight

[@chubsdubs279]

❤😂

[@david8157]

The secret war company the whole world knows about...

[@zbigniewdzwonkowski3536]

What the next ...about Blackwater...

[@jawde355]

Isn't all US Marines, navy... a much bigger Business by selling democracy to countries never asked for that but finally having to pay a much bigger price?

[@dennisyoung7363]

Like the CIA

[@Andron152]

they were secret until the war started

[@rias.gremoryyy]

Like most CIA's war crimes and crimes against humanity

[@SeekSeekerMaster]

It's hilarious to see how they never said these things for American and British PMC's.

[@TheSatchmo93]

I mean what did blackwater do in Iraq that was that different? Prince has said that his mission was to kill Muslims and that they did, when they entered a civilian area while traveling between bases they would just open fire blindly so that the locals learned to see them coming and flee. This is a war crime, targeting civilians at random? No soldier would lay claim to such dishonor, and direct perversion of the code of conduct. But mercenaries sell their honor to the highest bidder

[@yoursmellymotheryourfuckin8074]

I'm glad not everyone is stupid

[@kevincook1618]

Ganz meine meinung!

[@aleczelensky5925]

Maybe because it would be so dramatic to found out, that instead kidnapping, murdering, racketeering and eliminate regime enemies, those guys doing private contract security in unstable countries. This would be infobomb, huh?

[@aKalishnacough]

Black water uses a rifle. Wagner uses a howitzer.

[@wilmeroberg9794]

Hearing Americans talk about "It's not a classic private military company" is insane. Americans love to use Russia to make themselves seem mild and normal. There is nothing normal about private military companies and don't pretend like it is.

[@ohare_eraho]

militias are very normal. are you dull?

[@joshuawatson2161]

@@ohare_eraho PMC's and militas are extremely different things.

[@ohare_eraho]

@@joshuawatson2161 not really. many militias have history of fighting wars for pay

[@joshuawatson2161]

@@ohare_eraho That doesn’t make them a PMC. PMC’s historically have state backing with professional equipment, unlike militias.

[@jasminerichardson1237]

This episode needs a part 2 immediately because how the tables have turned 😅. Very interesting.

[@LaymanGamin]

The chickens are coming home to roost

[@user-oi3wp6br6f]

no

[@javacofe]

Indeed. It's now the "FO" part of "FAFO" for Yevgeny Prigozhin

[@CarterHayes77]

No they haven’t..

[@ianmackenzie1564]

8h old comment didn’t age well 😂

[@lenvg9891]

"Wagner is nothing like what Americans might understand as a private military company, Wagner are mercinaries for hire." Ok true but didn't America themselves extensively use PMC like Blackwater in Afghanistan? Furthermore these PMC also commited warcrimes and were funded by billions of tax payer money. So if Wagner is a terrorist group what does that make Blackwater?

[@A.B.5KRVw]

Its always hard to face your own weapons.

[@necromusic3726]

What a way of justifying war crimes, if `murica did it back in the day russia can commit it too

[@chrisburke624]

I'm actually glad you brought up this comparison, because there is a HUGE difference the two that isn't easily seen on the surface. The US used extensive PMC support throughout their operations in both countries. Some of the stuff that we never hear about are the companies that provide wifi to bases, cooking & good services, sanitation services, etc. In Iraq (where things got pretty crazy) the media completely butchered what actually happened, and dictated the narrative that everybody else reacted to & believed (including politicians) There is a VERY GOOD interview on the Shawn Ryan Show with all 4 guys who were involved in the so-called 'massacre' - and another interview with Eric Prince, the founder & CEO. I don't want to mess up what may be important details or leave anything out, but YT 'Shawn Ryan Show' and then write 'Blackwater' after, for a bunch of interviews about what really happened... Did people die that shouldn't have? Probably yes. But when you hear about how crazy that area actually was at the time, you can start to understand why threats were perceived as they were. (Wagner literally films themselves smashing people with sledgehammers & machetes)

[@Civiczz_]

Black water only had one instance of a major war crime and it got them destroyed

[@dmitrijpanin4051]

@@Civiczz_ :D hilarious, destroyed the name, because transferred to: Xe Services LLC, then: Academi, now: Constellis Holdings. Leave you bcrap to yourself

[@abdulmuqit1403]

Who is watching this after Prigozhin's "plane crash" death.

[@alkazeicer9616]

putler does not want to talk about it

[@dutchkushman9984]

The enemy never tells the truth about their enemy

[@videoscontrabandos3879]

As a Colombia national, I can tell you from experience, this is what happens when you give a paramilitary group more money and power than the actual army.

[@user-mn8rn9qb8s]

The most powerful and dangerous criminal groups are the paramilitaries

[@DrSilberman-psychologist]

This is called capitalism.

[@IbrahimIdrisPoesie]

M-19?

[@user-mn8rn9qb8s]

@@IbrahimIdrisPoesie farc and clan del golfo

[@DrSilberman-psychologist]

@@IbrahimIdrisPoesie I just live in Russia and support communism

[@commandermcnash5137]

And now we all expect Part 2: Prigozhin's Heresy and Wagner's road to Moscow.

[@josefkay5013]

An episode also known as Vlad's Butcher Comes Home to Roost. Cue laughtrack, cornball Russian theme song.

[@abhishektiwari6037]

Ha ha

[@andrewdeen1]

Part 2: Prigozhin Running to his Own Death (the squeakquel)

[@KGI_KlikoNL]

But now suddenly can concentrate on militairy things only and leave citizens alone, at least till now in Rostov

[@mohdashrof152]

COBRA group birth ....GI Joe will be too

[@Maximusesss]

Thank you for the opportunity to participate and work on this project! 🎥

[@johnd.2778]

We Americans are guilty of the same. In Iraq, for example, we hired mercenaries who also regularly committed war crimes. Our government protects them too. Julian Assange exposed one of the war crimes by our mercanary contracters and, despite the public wanting our government to not prosecute him, they are working to prosecute him under the espionage act because he embarrassed them. We have no standing as human rights leaders.

[@HumanFishBoy69]

nice whataboutism

[@siyandantozonkesibiya8139]

double standards. killed Gadaffi also

[@allcapsboy9139]

@@HumanFishBoy69 i think you meant to say _hypocrisy_

[@dernachrichten7769]

There is no difference between Wagner and the US Military. Invading other Countries in the interest of the Government, committing war crimes, overthrow Governments and most important exploiting resources. Only difference Wagner is responsible for fewer deaths. And Wagner is at least honestly, they don’t talk about “bringing democracy to other countries”

[@markbaxter4527]

But Iraq votes its leaders in now from a dictatorship ...putin is a dictatorship who wants to take a free people and take away there vote. Can you not see the difference?

[@Valdorel]

"Wagner is nothing like what Americans might understand as a Private military company" .... Your description is exactly equivalent to American PMCs in the Middle East, Africa, and South America... Did we suddenly forget that Blackwater exists?

[@curiousoddity]

Blackwater is not nearly as prevalent around the world in the passed decade. They lost a lot of domestic support. Meanwhile, Wagner has expanded its influence considerably.

[@copperbeckville1853]

Another low-iq whataboutism argument. Blackwater was never used as an active military force, conducting offensive missions. They were essentially body guards in military uniforms carrying small arms and never numbered more than 1000. They operate with permission of the country's they're in. And when the Nisour Square Massacre happened, justice was swift with convictions... But then your buddy Donald Trump pardoned them. Yeah, you forgot about that. Any comparison to the highly militarized Wagner group which is Putin’s secret private army and death squad he inserts in independent foreign countries without their knowledge or approval, conducting large offensive operations, in some cases with orders to assassinate is quite frankly silly. They number over 50,000, and now count violent criminals in their ranks, using the full power of a country's military short of nukes. And face zero liability for their actions, wether those are civil or criminal. Stop being a lazy dum@ss. We have a country filling with these types.

[@cmcarms4910]

Man we don’t care all we all no is Russia is not wrong stop trying to trick us since the USA have been taking all the world to war they have to stop

[@hannobaalii_makendalii]

Dyncorps?

[@Deadpoolion]

​@@curiousoddity Well, the mercenaries from Blackwaters shot civilians just for fun and also sold weapons contraband, of course, after such they will have problems with hiring. They even renamed several times due to press hype to Xe Services LLCC and Academi and now Constellis Holdings.

[@owl5053]

if America is talking about it, then Russia is on the right way

[@DJ-GASM]

"Wagner is nothing like what Americans might understand. It's a private military company." *Blackwater has entered the chat.* (edit for grammar)

[@danielj1063]

😅

[@leandroCaveira1]

I thought just exactly the same thing. It's just utterly pathetic that united statians will bluntly believe their private military companies are unblemished.

[@Eriku69]

Clean your ears man, he said "Wagner is nothing like what Americans might understand AS a private military company". Embarrassing, really

[@heshanlakshan7350]

When wagnar enter the chat blackwater left the chat 😂💔

[@deluca4750]

@@leandroCaveira1 Blackwater was massive news and it ruined the reputation of PMC's for most of the general public. But don't let reality get in the way of your ignorant hatred. ;)

[@sever4781]

Wagner Group = Evil CIA = Holy Angel 😂😂😂

[@Mumintrollet8921]

exactly, hilarious isn't it... the propaganda the US is pumping out is unreal.

[@tokesalotta1521]

So we're to act like the French, British, Italians, and Americans haven't been doing the same for decades?

[@tobikzlobivy3379]

More like If Russians and Soviets haven’t doing and if the countries You mension did it why is Russia doing the same.

[@domaspauliukevicius5088]

I love how they called it mercenary group, like other PMC's aren't

[@Mr.SKIFLANDIAN]

In general, of course, this is not a private military company. This is a full-fledged private army. By the type of those armies that were in Medieval Europe. They are not guards, they are soldiers. A unique phenomenon in the modern world.

[@tewsscharly6841]

Unique phenomenon in the modern world? haha are you blind or what?

[@Mr.SKIFLANDIAN]

@@tewsscharly6841 You're just off topic)

[@brandonblackfyre5783]

It can be classified as a PMC group as well though. No matter how large the group is. It can be a PMC and a private military army as well

[@smplfi9859]

now try to understand Russia is not the only country who operates these types of (non national) groups. America had Blackwater that became Triple Canopy then formed what is known as Contellis. America has other silent departments like all the Signals groups, that commit activity under the US badge but claim nothing for the very same country they derive authority. Qatar and Turkey collude in funding groups as well. Israel has a pretty infamous one themselves that uses the leverage of blackmail against foreign diplomats. Cuba operates a prominent one. China operates many both inside and outside China.

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

Bro they have been around these Pmc even in the west since the 80s. And blackwater actively helped in the iraq and afghan war and has US army train at its huge trainings centres bro because blackwater owns one of the biggest military training facilities in the world

[@mishmohd]

I have a question: European miners have been mining in CAR long before Wagner came in. Why have they never bothered industrializing the mines? Industrialization reduces labor's exposure to hazards such as physical injuries or chemical interactions. Why have these rich, powerful European mining companies never bothered protecting these laborers or transfer technology - that is archaic by today's standards by the way - to CAR?

[@900distribution7]

Great question

[@andreyknyazev9179]

very good question. And the answer is...the labourers were the people of the lower sort for them and they did not care.

[@antoniolsls7774]

if its the West doing its okay thats how the world works, West good the rest evil....

[@vovathecreator7024]

everything that the defenders of democracy do is always good, even if it is bad.

[@900distribution7]

@@vovathecreator7024 good sarcasm

[@elliot1460]

Not a Putin fanboy or wagner lover but how do they differ from Blackwater?

[@encore3707]

'they are nothing like an7y private military company you've heard of' goes on to describe every private military company/mercenary from the beginning of time.

[@benayers8622]

lol! For those who never followed metal gear solid

[@altymogo3781]

It’s a hook. Meant to bring the reader/viewer closer to the text/documentary. This could be exaggerated or untrue.😮😮😮😮😮😂

[@babydavey2782]

This is good we need a documentary about US secret units and private military units employed by the US as well

[@__prometheus__]

i think theres been many

[@duran9664]

Wagner is legalized state-backed paramilitary criminal cartel exactly like 👉 American BlackWater (aka Academi, aka Xe Services, aka Triple Canopy, aka Constellis Group). 😒

[@wiredvibe1678]

Usa uses special forces groups for in person assassinations, and CIA drones for more liberal assassinations

[@mSantsnj]

Obama with ISIS (proven right), Obama with some cartel (look up “fast and furious”) hmmm not sure but CIA funded some other Mexican gang leaders essentially maybe Zetas or something like that.

[@mSantsnj]

I mean we literally do prop up groups all the time to overthrow governments in other countries.

[@alte7580]

Nice, now one documentary about AZOV please.

[@HalfLife83]

Brilliant doco.. This was put together before Prigo death so I am very much looking forward to a second part. Good job seriously

[@adfggffffffddffd]

For westerners struggling to understand what Wagner group is, it's basically just Russian Blackwater.

[@AnarcoGelain]

Very good. Can we get one like that about Blackwater, Légion étrangère and other "exotic" forces?

[@user-vd5fq7lb8e]

Of course not!! Butchers who have killed hundreds of thousands of people in Serbia, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan pay for hate propaganda against Russians!!

[@commercialbreak8290]

The french "Legión Étrangère" is not a private army group. It’s a French army corp who can hire foreigners.

[@AnarcoGelain]

@@commercialbreak8290 I didn't say it was private. But clearly it's not like other regular armies and would be interesting to watch a documentary about it.

[@bassdee9594]

I think there are a lot of documentaries about the Legión Étrangère, and they are under French Military control, they even wear the same uniform and flag, but there is of course a reason why this Legion does so long exist. It is much different to tell your fellow country men that they're sons, brothers died in a conflict, then some foreigners fighting under your flag and get sent where ever the government sees fit and die maybe where they get sent. I have never seen where PMC's or Legioners death were protested.

[@zues9614]

​@@commercialbreak8290 yeah they usually oppress their own people for France, that's lower dignity then mercs.

[@BactrianNomad]

Is there any difference between Wagner group and any other American private armies?

[@ericeisenhofer2867]

Only that the US does a lot more of this, in every corner of the world.

[@mysticnovelbro]

and has done so for much longer too

[@MuhammedMuhammed-xd7qo]

Yeah, Wagner is helping rich Russian oligarchs make money at the expense of everyone else, and American PMCs help rich American oligarchs make money at the expense of everyone else. Hence why Wagner bad but Blackwater good, because you see, those rich American oligarchs using private military forces to destabilize and loot countries are the good guys, while Putler is a big ol' meanie.

[@seb1554]

No but don’t tell that to all of the people who think they are morally superior, they don’t care.

[@hidude177]

@@ericeisenhofer2867 source?

[@Captain.Pugwash]

Very interesting. I feel like I want to write a screenplay now 🙂

[@davidhudson5452]

Balcony is deadly

[@hiyou1976]

How about making a movie about Blackwater mercenaries or is that a bad thing to say?

[@salahad-din4114]

I agree totally, in Iraq and Afghanistan we continually seen PMC where we were told they were not there, definitely there to back up three letter agencies. With regards to their existence, I'd have to give them a nod for keeping soldiers employed after the military kicks us out with no other work experience than what many of us have done since leaving school. Only difference is our military and government are supposed to have rules of engagement. This keeps deniable plausibility on the table. Pass the buck if you like

[@ArmyofTHO]

They don't need 1 day to hold hands together and fall off from a balcony.

[@drrydog]

this is mainstream media, so yea, you aren't allowed to ask about Blackwater. BW pays WSJ indirectly

[@jakemeyer8188]

I KNEW someone in the comments would try to make the comparison. Blackwater and Wagner aren't even in the same league. More importantly, once it became clear that Blackwater was possibly on its way to being at this level, it was shut down...quickly. Split up, renamed, and divested to the point of irrelevance because of what came to light. THAT is the big difference here. America and journalism shut Blackwater down. Russia can't, or won't, shut down Wagner. I traditionally lean right, and have no love for the overly liberal media, but the fact is the only thing keeping either side in check IS the either side. Russia doesn't have that, and this is just one of the many things that happen...

[@tatianalyulkin410]

Can't do that. Dangerous. You're gonna make Sasha Soros mad.

[@Chadministrator93]

Whoa that's so crazy. So how are Wagner's operations different from US private military contract groups?

[@SuperKeithers]

about the same actually

[@Chadministrator93]

@@SuperKeithers thanks, Sherlock 🤠🧠

[@rikhughes6452]

You work for the propaganda department of wagner

[@Chadministrator93]

@@rikhughes6452 I wish. Bet they pay better than my job.

[@bidexiiinaijmilvideos1098]

@@rikhughes6452 dont deceive yourself American PMC are way worst than that, they committed worst atrocities in Iraq, Afghan and other African countries

[@mr.wigglemunch3856]

I'm afraid there won't be a part 2 anymore

[@38ff18]

Это обычная частная военная компания как и в США только лучше на много ☺️

[@Nift502]

This is a hit piece

[@oriddle8347]

1:13 Love when he said Americans wouldn’t understand the concept of private military’s as if some of the largest aren’t American

[@marcusr2392]

And then he lists horrible things they do as if American soldiers haven't done the same and worse 🤣🤣🤣

[@ajajaaukka]

whataboutism detected in this thread

[@myname-mz3lo]

@@ajajaaukka nope . whataboutism is something else . this is just stating that the so called "great journalists" forgot to mention how russia is copying what america has dont for decades .. and pretending like it is new . do you let internet pre-chew all your arguements ?

[@Krikker]

@@ajajaaukkathis documentary is a overdramaticism and wrongism on many thingsism

[@johnwildish8599]

the USA is hypocrites at the highest order... Black Water

[@sergeymas2545]

Excellent documentary. I would like to see something similar about the crimes of the British Group 4 Securicor or the American Academi (formerly Blackwater). Hope it comes out soon!

[@GUNNERSIGHTZEROED]

You must be joking. They wouldn't dare!

[@jord1214]

That's unlikely to happen. Blackwater isn't very interesting anymore, as they've lost most of their government contracts following the scandals and keep a low profile. In-fact no-one would be making a documentary on Wagner either, if it wasn't for them acting like the Schutzstaffel in Ukraine at the moment.

[@andreiselenskikh3688]

It will never come out, all western stand for good only Russian is evil

[@El_Mayo]

So they are also a shadow army whose business is killing and torturing people?

[@mariorossi4050]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheMerioz]

Imagine being so badass that even your chef is military leader.

[@MrHappy-hx3go]

What?

[@Any-wg3gf]

​@@MrHappy-hx3goPutin lider world!

[@joedalton77]

To the comments saying: "but what about US group X?" two things can be bad at the same time, it's not that hard to understand

[@kalamiess]

Russians are a slave people with the inability to comprehend that westerners can criticize and not support the actions of their own governments

[@RED_Theory038]

The accusation is that state department rags like WSJ will never accuse or scrutinize actions of the west to the same degree. Take this propaganda piece with a grain of salt and follow where their money comes from.

[@jamesrowlands8971]

Yes. 2 things. The US media, and the lies they tell you.

[@maxwellsope1080]

That's not the point they are making. The point is that when america was doing human rights abuses and crimes nobody was saying anything. It was all right but now that it's russia it's a bad?. Talk about hypocrisy.

[@SanctusPaulus1962]

@@jamesrowlands8971 What?

[@Benny_San]

We Americans are home to a privately owned mercenary group called Academy formerly known as Blackwater run by Eric Prince brother of Betsy DeVos who was former U.S. secretary of education.

[@PSonak]

Which country did Blackwater steal resources from?

[@zues9614]

​​@@PSonak Iraq Syria Afghanistan Libya Yemen and most Africa they got very rich from just killing alone.

[@ornament_of_throne12346]

@@PSonak you better not ask that

[@KevinJohnson-cv2no]

Academi (Blackwater) never exploited resources. It never pillaged as Wagner did; but merely provided security solutions in their respective domains. Yes, they did have mishaps where they abused force against civilians and citizens. But the exploitation & extraction of a countries resources is never something Blackwater has been known to do or take part in. Blackwater made some billions from providing top of the line forces to militia's in war-torn territories and giving high-flying politicians high-grade protection; but they could only dream of making the billions that Wagner was extracting from Syrian oil.

[@PSonak]

@Zues Nope, try again. I didn't say where did they operate, I said where did they steal resources. What are the names of the mines that they operate?

[@starkeymorgan4142]

Now for part 2: Blackwater

[@lyher2722]

Live by the sword, die by the sword. RIP Prigozhin. Dos ve Dayna.

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

CURTANA THE SWORD OF MERCY

[@samsherwood2836]

Who's here learning about Wagner before the civil War breaks out?

[@helloyoutube1338]

me of course, currently now the situation is now more complex

[@CarterHayes77]

They turned back ?

[@drmartin5062]

Learning? It’s all been scrubbed. The time to learn has passed. Who knows what’s happening

[@DeepDeepest]

What about now?

[@OGL_Purple_Bee]

The civil war was over before it had even begun

[@monateru1712]

This is about to be a real popular video

[@MrKevin1144]

Very!

[@mivrkncff]

Успехов музыкантам нашим!

[@dotcomdudee]

Can't wait to watch episode 2 lol

[@repunknante]

they should also do a documentary about how the government of the US fund and help the paramilitary groups in Colombia. would be interesting, just saying.. :v

[@khunmikeon858]

1000% agree. The conniving American CIA…. Let’s have a programme on that. LOL. Or Blackwater… Victory to Russia.

[@grumpygardner3059]

I'd heard of Wagner from their Syrian and Ukraine actions but hadn't heard of them in Africa. Thanks for your work.

[@userAS456]

On start of that video we see that just propaganda story, bcs no one from freedom ppl in Siria, African country and especially Bakhmut's citizens never say something bad against them. Especially very funny about how Russia try steal other resorces.

[@831lance]

What’s interesting to me is that they choose to portray a very one sided story while leaving out the United States is illegally stealing Syrian oil at 100% margins & that Wagner is simply hired to help keep the thieves out. It’s a mutual agreement between Syria & Wagner. No different than the incredibly high import taxes the US forces on foreign countries. The moment you dig deeper is the moment you realize this is clearly a propaganda piece. Wagner has statues in Africa by the way. For helping stability not destabilizing like the US is often responsible for.

[@sequoia1171]

Not for nothing, but Syria is in Africa

[@ShloppyShmeat]

@@sequoia1171 It is not. Syria is on the continent of Asia.

[@userAS456]

@@sequoia1171 that true, no one cant work for free, not in military sphere. And no, Siria not Africa.

[@manojmathew5727]

I pray wholeheartedly for those who lost their lives, homes and loved ones, let god shall be with them and peace be with them

[@domdirector]

How are they secret if they appear on public television

[@grxy5924]

The paramilitary contractor groups we should truly be worried about are the ones nobody is talking about, the ones so well funded, so well disguised that we don’t see any info on them in the main aspect of media and journalism. Things of this nature will become more and more common as tensions rise between major global leaders, which results in guerrilla warfare and espionage style conflicts. Weird times ahead indeed.

[@benayers8622]

100% time the masses were given the metal gear solid collection and told theres the truth lol!

[@navinnavin2498]

Need more documentaries like this

[@anr287]

Need a documentary like this about the mercenary company named "Blackwater".

[@user-bu9qe9qx9y]

@@anr287 😢现实真有黑水公司吗？早就听说过这个黑暗的雇佣兵集团

[@pete7110]

@@jasonhuntchicago haha there is always an empty head in these comments

[@BlackCit]

@@anr287 Not a mercenary company.

[@ElonMuskab01]

@@BlackCit Hello 👋🏻 Big Fan🚀

[@tulgatseg3144]

Very interesting! Could you make the same documanteries about the US Army invasions in Afghanistan, Irak, Syria etc? Thank you 😉🙂

[@mattywest8019]

"The level of power he achieved" He likely shared that sentiment, until it was pulled right from under his feet

[@maviswarren3Gmail]

Hi Mattywest Good Afernoon . I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your post tells of a wonderful man with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….

[@phillipgreen-pe9wg]

A similar documentary should be made about Sandline international. A very close friend of mine fought for them and won many distinctions back in the 1990s.

[@mitchelnorton2692]

Just watched one last night. On KZbin. It's way old from 1997.

[@demeter-the-great]

One of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a while, WSJ. We need part 2 now with what’s happening with the Group.

[@elbardthawne7568]

they're getting stronger and stronger with the increasing power of Russia and Asia.

[@te9591]

Then, a part 3 to see if Putin assassinates Prozhin.

[@laneinthebeat8148]

By far the worst western garbage propaganda

[@disconductorder]

Except they just gloss over the fact US troops were filmed taking oil They will cry all day and night about Russian propaganda, meanwhile its all projection. US troops were transporting oil out of Syria, atleast Wagner had permission from Syrian government and vice acts like they are stealing it. Vice has become well funded propaganda, they were decent in 2014 at start of Ukraines war on the Donbass. They spent 120+ episode looking for 'Russians meddling in Donbass Ukraine', long story short-after checking many ID's-never found any. Vice- 'Russian Roulette', Vice is curiously quiet about those earlier documentaries making their propaganda purpose more obvious bc it betrays their current narative of 'Russia invaded for no reason'. complete Rubbish

[@user-mn8rn9qb8s]

​@@te9591nope

[@BobbyG3752]

Are they similar to the US Haliburton and Black Water??? Asking for a friend of course

[@DemirFatih-gj2zm]

Seriously, the excitement is real. Been winning back to back with the IPL bets. 4 RABAT is where it's at this year

[@youngzoe3861]

All Major superpowers does the same things across the world, it's a never ending story.

[@colinroach7815]

Let's be specific though....the USA, NATO, UK and their Corporations are still to this day is doing what they claim Wagner is doing, and thy are doing it as a so call legitimate Representative of the People (who are erroneously labeled as Government).

[@oldfashionedwrx3574]

yeah any1 does this, its human nature, its in every1

[@ishot2pac69]

Well Jews do hump a roman wall to impregnate a strange goddess and usher in a new world

[@SuperKeithers]

i think the boys called it something like 'the anarchic state of nature between states'

[@Corax186]

Haven't heard of 20000 americans getting slaughtered while capturing some city in Middle East.

[@hadikhan63]

Blackwater was a very normal business company and there were no war crimes committed at all. This is what we should believe according to the west.

[@LunaticTheCat]

Very interesting watch post Prigozhin's death.

[@cya1no]

Since it's WSJ, I'm gonna take everything they say, turn it the opposite way and be closer to the truth.

[@FRFvckYT]

This really looks like evolution of what Black Water was back in it's day. Being able to to take more than military contracts really is something else.

[@MARKEVIS]

How is it a “Secret War Company” when it is now the most known war company in the world? 😭

[@cinqbuns]

its the second most known, blackwater is more popular with more invasions and older.

[@legoushque3334]

because it was secret before 2022 and Prigozhin denied any connection to the Wagner PMC and even sued for it prior to the war in Ukraine

[@captainnemo6159]

@@cinqbuns black water puppies, they never fought with equals

[@kennypyrate7554]

Just like the black rock group has their army

[@mrgngstr]

now do one about blackwater

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

now do one about blackfire

[@loneranger5928]

Interesting and informative documentary 👍👍

[@fernandocardoso7102]

The funniest and most ironic thing is that everything they said about the Wagner group also fits perfectly with the Americans, or they think that everyone has already forgotten what they do or have done In Iraq? From those photos of prisoners being tortured? Hypocrisy is the hallmark of Americans, that should be the motto of your flag.

[@Ropetrick6]

Whataboutism has never been an intellectual argument. Sure, the US might have done terrible things, but how does that make Wagner doing even worse things justified? And don't say "I don't support Wagner!" because if that was true, you wouldn't be trying to defend them like this.

[@ExpatStacker]

"You did it, too." LOL. The difference between America and wagner is that we are successful, and we don't need to hide. Our flag is what it is. It doesn't change like your russian flag that changes everytime a new emporer sits on the throne to make your territory weaker and smaller. God bless America.

[@SurrogateActivities]

do you want every documentary to be about every PMC that has ever existed?

[@Monokesha]

@@Ropetrick6 По-твоему "Whatthefuckism" аргумент? Вынь бревно из своего глаза, а потом ищи соринку в моём!

[@garyhost1830]

​@@Ropetrick6has done is terms of past tense. No no no my friend right now. 1 and a half billion was taken from the american tax payer to give to the ukranian govt. 1-2 months later over half that govt was fired for stealing money😅😅 a bit suss. A former cia op said this is a common trick and half that money would end up back in the same officials pockets in the usa that voted in the allocation of funds. Also the gas line that was blown up (by the usa most likley according to trump) was the biggest act of terrorism in the world ever😂. They are all as dodgy as each other.

[@mohammednadiif6368]

Did anyone else read and remember the East India company? It sounds history of empires repeats itself.

[@danielj1063]

That's all anyone learns from history

[@tristanwilkinson9516]

Yes. What did we learn about the East India Company (18th Century) that we can now apply to dealing with the Wagner Group (21st Century)?

[@mrfinch6664]

Blackwater USA ring a bell ?

[@tristanwilkinson9516]

@@mrfinch6664 Yeah. .........but 1) what's Blackwater's influence in Africa now? 2) did Blackwater ever recruit in American prisons? and, 3) did its chief 'admin' officer ever repeatedly / publicly come out and criticise the efficiency of the US military ? Are there really parallels between Blackwater and Wagner Group, in light of these points?

[@hamonryechinaski180]

Get a grip. Read more stuff that challenges your BS

[@joshuaelijah865]

Rename this to "Inside US Army, America's War Company" and the whole thing would make sense word for word.

[@kenjirocs2006]

incredible documentary ! hands down #WallStreetJournal

[@ImRanger]

Pure propaganda. We have done much much worse

[@RickyisHere]

Funny how they can show dead bodies not even blurred, but you get your video taken down because someone screamed and that is considered “against community guidelines”…🤔

[@rell0223]

I didn't expect to learn about PMC's from the Emily soyjak

[@BajkeTheSerb]

In part 2 let's see the story about atrocities done by US mercenary companies called MPRI, Black Water, and also about IFOR, SFOR and KFOR troops. The world deserves to hear about others side where it all begun.

[@RedMichicompanies]

"Wagner is nothing like what Americans might understand as mercenaries" *Proceeds to describe what they do and happens its the same as what the US army does in the middle east*

[@dacadanijela5844]

Lepo napisano zlo tesko

[@korkunge]

Awesome Documentary, Easy enough to understand if you are not into this stuff but sufficient enough for the ones who are and knows more. GREAT WORK! PART 2 needs to be done!!!!!

[@user-cm1uu6zq3k]

Фильм фэйк, обычная пропаганда. Русские плохие и бла бла бла. Вагнер носилует стариков, детей и мужчин. А ещё в комплекте военного России, есть печенье, виагра и фалос 😂Хорош верить во всякий бред.

[@user-id8iy3vm3g]

What a fantastic documentary! Really well done and enjoyable to watch. The secret war company the whole world knows about....

[@chrisc2184]

The thing is you never heard of Wagner because you live in the west. Most Russians have known of Wagner for the last 10 years....The west love to tell you of their own SAS and the baby killing US Marines giving us the impression that the rest of the world has nothing like it

[@NotTheLastOne]

you can learn about it but not from sold out MSM

[@NwAJavje]

Crazy to think that the U.S. and their contractors have been doing this for nearly a century.

[@chrisnguyen1720]

Bro that intro was the closest thing to a real life Warhammer 40K/Space Marine Starship Trooper dil

[@thoridannn]

Well the release of this was incredibly well timed.

[@illumination101]

He bit the hand that fed him>Mistake #1.... Mistake #2> he outshined the master ..... in laws of power that equates to death

[@PunkBASSter]

Угарно читать доки на русском в американской документалке. :) The best Hollywood actor to play Prigozhin would be John Malkovich.

[@AmAxOReload]

If you liked this investigation, I recommend you to watch "Wagner, Putin's shadow army" by Ksenia Bolchakova and Alexandra Jousset. It was shown on French TV just before Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Back then, Prigozhin kept a low profile and denied any connection with Wagner. The investigation centers mostly around Wagner's actions in Syria and Prigozhin's businesses in Africa. It is really an incredible work of journalism. Ksenia and Alexandra were pioneers and they put the light on Putin's dirty wars. The investigation received the prestigious 2022 Albert Londres Prize.

[@xris3o5]

WSJ is a press for hire. The Chef has more decency than the whole West. He respected the Ukrainian soldiers he killed in Bakhmut and put them ib coffins, unlike the Nazi Ukrainians who killed their prisoners.

[@Soviiet_union]

Am unable to find the documentary.. can plz provide me the link ?

[@AmAxOReload]

@@Soviiet_union kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWWXhodro9WilZI the French title is "Wagner, l'armée de l'ombre de Poutine"

[@shayaldwarka7907]

Yeah right Putin's dirty wars. If I am not mistaken russia was invited by Syria. The war in Syria is your beloved evil government doing. US and NATO wanted to destabilise Syria and created ISIS. Well that all failed miserably

[@TheDrAstrov]

This is not rasslkdovanie this manipulation of facts - propaganda 😂

[@williamcoles4950]

Rest In Peace brother ❤️

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Rest In Paradise brother ❤️

[@Honeyless-Badger]

In fact, there isn't any difference between Wagner of Russia and Black water of USA. Both of them are the companies that recruit mercenaries who work with a contract. Black water also committed many war crimes during Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

[@Jalenlane93]

Facts. They're pretending like mercenaries haven't existed since wars first started. They never mention the French or British mercenaries who still operate in Africa.

[@rowanaldean]

Glad this comment is present for balance on this.

[@HyzersGR]

The difference is that Blackwater was made of up of professionals and used for security work and escorting of diplomats whereas Wagner is mostly made up of conscripted convicts and involved in direct military assaults, often in the form of human wave attacks.

[@zionistkillingmachine]

@@HyzersGR Professionals for what killing and stealing resources all over the globe

[@HyzersGR]

@@zionistkillingmachine Last I checked the US didn't try to annex Iraq like Russia is trying to do in Ukraine.

[@keenaza]

Well… now that he’s dead…. Guess we need a part 2!

[@tropickman]

How do you know?

[@marcelspence5304]

Do a Second Part about the US in AFRICA.V Corps, 56th Artillery Command, 7th Army Training Command, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Southern European Task Force-Africa, HQ&HQ Battalion, US Army Europe & Africa Band & Chorus, US Army NATO Brigade.

[@markv9521]

Certainly one of THE BEST documentaries I have seen on this topic! Thank you!

[@alextanui1086]

It sums it all.... One fact...Putin knows them well

[@barryle516]

Shut up colonizer

[@johnskrelnik]

LOL @BEST

[@mac9954]

@@alextanui1086 War crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq by the United States of America.

[@carlov2844]

do you really believe alot of this? the video at the start of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the jkail looks deepfaked and cgi. The picture of the russian soldier standing by himself in front of a mosc is also staged. Look how new/clean his clothes and equipment are, if he was actually there he'd be filthy and also wearing a mask to keep the dust out... rewatch it and tell me you don't see these things.

[@thisbloomingroomwithcoachc7782]

Its amazing how quickly this documentary aged. In light of recent developments a follow up is highly needed. We are waiting! Great job guys.

[@anamericandream543]

What happened recently???

[@domsanchez148]

This is some of the most obvious and heavy-handed State Department propaganda I've ever seen and here the American normie watches it and is enthralled, "finally.. I know the truth." Laughable stuff.

[@martox3560]

@@anamericandream543 u serious? Wagner mutinied and marched towards Moscow. They then stopped and turned around when they got close cuz of some deal being struck. Prigozin has now been sent to Belarus and the Wagner group is gonna be integrated into the Russian army.

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

Ehm, you were saying?...LOLOL

[@sergeys7771]

the video didnt age at all. Nothing has changed for Wagner. Nothing.

[@alexandershing]

"Russia is further destabilising.." said in an American accent has got to be the biggest irony of all time.

[@jonasf1275]

US BIG MAD when somebody beats them with their own politics

[@michellesavickas3730]

Now someone do one about Q4S (formerly 'Group 4') and their tentacles around the world, especially Africa and developing countries. Also their take over and monopolising of most of Britain's security industry especially government security, the prison service and much much more.

[@gennadyrostov1214]

Расскажи про американские щупальца. Про Ирак, Ливию, Югославию например. Везде вас черт несёт

[@SK-ko8dr]

Q4S is not illegal (unlike Wagner, even by Russian law Private Military Companies /mercenary activities are illegal). Q4S has not been caught destroying cities, torturing civilians and killing defectors with sledgehammers.

[@user-bj8jg2vu8z]

@@gennadyrostov1214 В Югославии войну остановили

[@MrPaSSke]

@@gennadyrostov1214 Руси и Срби браћа заувек ! Поздрав из Србије, и велика подршка за сву нашу браћу. Завршите посао у Украини и победите сво зло које доноси запад !

[@christoph9587]

​@@MrPaSSke Russia is getting smoked in Ukraine..... better pray a little harder. Cause that isn't working.

[@TheSJCieply]

A catering company is a great idea. Not only can you cook the books, but you can cook them with style.

[@ElonMuskab01]

Hello 👋🏻 Big Fan🚀🚀

[@mitchyoung93]

It does have a certain very Russian elegance to it.

[@ElonMuskab01]

@@mitchyoung93 what’s your name and where are you from

[@nsevv]

and cook the prey.

[@nsevv]

@@mitchyoung93 there needs to be a window somewhere.

[@TRoutdooradventures]

Where is part 2? Or something equivalent

[@benirab8153]

stupid ads are ruining the whole documentary

[@Buddhavibez]

No matter matter who you fight for as a soldier or how many medals are awarded for your sacrifices, no matter how special they make you feel, or how inflated your ego is as a soldier, just remember you’re still nothing more than a rich mans pawn and a statistic to be used as collateral damage. Brutal truth suck it up soldiers. Stop letting rich old men pimp you out to protect them and their selfish interests. Go home and love your family members.

[@mito88]

the racket

[@nickmcdonald6731]

The men who fought in the revolutionary war weren't fighting for rich men.

[@nickmcdonald6731]

If we didn't give our goverment so much power and money to dominate us this wouldn't be the case.

[@novusregnum]

you mean like the polish soldiers defending their country against Germany in ww2?

[@eliyahuohiyon7461]

@@nickmcdonald6731 They quite literally were lol

[@BayAreaMotorcycleCommuting]

Thank you WSJ for doing such important work

[@robertmaybeth3434]

great video, much too long.

[@BayAreaMotorcycleCommuting]

@@robertmaybeth3434 Conveying this much information simply takes time; a shorter video wouldn't have the same level of depth and detail. Either way, I always watch these on 1.5x or 2.0x playback speed to reduce my overall watch time

[@globaladdict]

​@Robert Maybeth you just have a short attention span amd aren't suited for tackling complicated issues in life. Maybe stick to tiktok?

[@robertmaybeth3434]

@@BayAreaMotorcycleCommuting you too huh? Yeah most videos can greatly be improved by speeding them up, I do that for almost all of them

[@randomguy7175]

No private Nazi forces from west fighting in Ukraine!? No wonder western people are so dumb , they believe in CIA propaganda 24/7

[@nomadson615]

How do you pronounce it Vagner or Wagner I'm confused.

[@glenvillehinds1436]

Excellent presentation.

[@Cabral7o2]

Well then looks like it’s happening

[@quicklern818]

Here he comes…

[@davethompson6122]

Maybe another good video would be about Academi formally called Blackwater (they changed names due to the Nisour Square massacre in Baghdad) an American private military contractor used extensively by the usa for deniability in various conflicts.

[@johnmclean8414]

Yeah yeah yeah USA bad good propaganda comrade Ruskie bot

[@nancywages7029]

There have been plenty of documentaries on Blackwater. One is not better than the other.

[@davethompson6122]

@@manuelzarat wow you really are uninformed,or just trolling....about 2 minutes researching tells the story of this american bunch of mercenary's,tell you what to keep it simple for you read this and take the blinkers from your eyes.... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_(company)

[@AS-010o0]

Nah they’re not as brutal or successful as Wagner

[@donQpublic]

Let’s think of the kids… baby goats.

[@mr.coffee6242]

Well that sure aged well. Incredibly fast. RIP Prigojine