The Wagner group's role is growing but it faces the same challenges as the wider Russian military.
Fighters from Russia's mercenary Wagner Group have ballooned from 1,000 to nearly 20,000 in Ukraine, British government officials say, a sign of Russia's growing reliance on the military contractor in support of its invasion.
The BBC has been briefed by UK officials who've been tracking the activities of the Wagner Group. They say the group is now playing a much higher profile role in the war in Ukraine. But officials add that Wagner has also traded "quality for quantity" and is now facing the same challenges and losses on the battlefield as the wider Russian military.Wagner's influence and presence has only got stronger, as Russia's invasion plans have stuttered, stalled and suffered setbacks.
UK officials say there's been a pivot from quality to quantity. In the past, Wagner was believed to recruit mostly experienced former soldiers - including from Russian military intelligence, known as the GRU, and ex-special forces. A recent UK defence intelligence assessment highlighted Wagner's tactics. It said Wagner was using large numbers of poorly trained convicts - which it viewed as expendable. It said they were likely given just a specific, limited objective - like assaulting a building - without being allowed to deviate from the plan.
Which underlines the other significant change in Wagner's approach - it's now actively courting publicity and promoting the brand.In September it opened up a glitzy new headquarters in St Petersburg - named "PMC Wagner Centre". It said it was for "the generation of new ideas in order to increase the defence capabilities of Russia, including the sphere of information".
But in reality they see Wagner facing the exact same challenges as Russia's military - suffering the same shortages of equipment and high rate of casualties. Some of its troops may be better paid and better equipped than the average Russian soldier, but many are not. UK officials say Wagner personnel are also likely facing gruelling conditions and materiel shortages in Ukraine.
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