20,000 Wagner soldiers suddenly `disappeared` from Belarus

(Dan Tri) – Amid news that Wagner forces have returned to the Ukrainian battlefield, Wagner’s army of thousands of people seems to have `disappeared` from Belarus, Ukrainian and Western intelligence said.

Wagner once transferred troops and military equipment from Russia and the Ukrainian battlefield to Belarus after the failed rebellion in Russia in June. In the photo: Satellite photo of Wagner’s military convoy moving to the base in Belarus

On October 3, Pravda news website quoted a report from Ukrainian intelligence as saying that in recent days, NATO satellites have not detected any activity of military equipment and Wagner soldiers in deployment areas.

A NATO representative said that it was impossible to secretly move such a large military unit across national borders.

Wagner’s mysterious movements raised concerns that this force was about to launch a plan to target the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Belarus, a Russian ally, shares a border with Ukraine.

Belarus said that here, Wagner soldiers support training for their army.

Wagner’s presence in Belarus once raised concerns that this private military force would launch an attack on Ukraine from the north, the shortest route targeting the capital Kiev.

Wagner returned to the battlefield in Ukraine

Wagner soldiers in Rostov, Russia during the riot on June 24 (Photo: Reuters).

News related to Wagner’s mysterious disappearance in Belarus appeared amid speculation that Wagner had a new commander and had begun returning to the Ukrainian battlefield after the death of tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Pavel Prigozhin, 25, Prigozhin’s son, is said to have taken over the organization’s elite unit and is returning to the battlefield in Ukraine.

After the failed rebellion in June, Wagner handed over more than 2,000 heavy weapons, including tanks and air defense systems, to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

`We have recorded the presence of several hundred Wagner fighters before,` Reuters quoted Colonel Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Ukraine Military Command.

It is currently unclear what Wagner’s purpose and mission will be when returning to the Ukrainian battlefield, but according to experts, Wagner’s units may be tasked with taking control of the city of Avdiivka in Eastern Ukraine.

In a recent report, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Wagner’s condition is currently unknown.

Meanwhile, a Telegram channel connected to Wagner said the leader of this organization is negotiating with the Russian military to maintain the command, symbol, operating principles and management.