Wagner Group Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Africa’s New Overseers: Inside Russia’s Covert Gold Empire”

Russia’s involvement in building a gold refinery plant in Mali is not just an economic move — it’s a strategic maneuver involving sanctions evasion, geopolitical influence, and shadow financing of military operations in Africa and…

June 18, 2025gold, GRU, Russia, SVR, Wagner Group

Conflict War crimes

Blood in the Shadows: Protests in the Central African Republic and the Pattern of Wagner Group Atrocities

The recent wave of protests across the Central African Republic (CAR) reflects growing public outrage at the continued presence and influence of Russian mercenaries, particularly the Wagner Group. Sparked by…

April 7, 2025CAR, Russia, Wagner Group

Coup Democracy Governance Intelligence ops

Russian Military Intelligence Behind Attempted Coup in Romania: The Shadowy Network Supporting Pro-Russian Candidate Călin Georgescu

Russian military intelligence is being held responsible for attempting to destabilize the situation in Romania by orchestrating mass protests in support of the pro-Russian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. Riots Erupt…

March 10, 2025GRU, Romania, Russia, Wagner Group

Coup Democracy Governance profile

Ibrahim Traoré, Russian Influence, and U.S. Policy Challenges

Ibrahim Traoré, the current leader of Burkina Faso, is a military officer who took power through a coup in 2022. Here is an analysis based on his public actions, speeches,…

February 25, 2025Burkina Faso, France, Russia, USA, Wagner Group

Must Read PDF

Wagner’s Business Model inSyria and Africa: Profit and Patronage

This paper examines whether the Wagner Group (Wagner) was profitable under its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, what its business model has meant for Russia and Russia’s geopolitical rivals in the recent…

February 6, 2025Wagner Group

Intelligence ops War crimes

Russia May Be Involved in Violating Arms Embargo in Darfur

The circumstances surrounding the destruction of a military transport aircraft in North Darfur may point to the existence of supply channels funneling Russian weapons into Sudan. On October 22, an…

October 22, 2024Darfur, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Sudan, UAE, Wagner Group

Democracy Governance Intelligence ops

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu Thwarts Russian-Backed Unrest, Successfully Leads Democratic Elections

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu Thwarts Russian-Backed Unrest, Successfully Leads Democratic Elections In a critical moment for Moldova’s democracy, President Maia Sandu and her government managed to maintain stability during the…

October 21, 2024Maia Sandu, Moldova, Russia, Wagner Group

War crimes

Russian Military Crimes in Mali Highlight Propensity for Sadism and Atrocities by Russian Expeditionary Groups

Russia continues to commit war crimes on the African continent. We previously analyzed numerous incidents of violence, extrajudicial killings, and rapes perpetrated by Wagner Group mercenaries in the Central African…

August 6, 2024Mali, Russia, Wagner Group

Geopolitics

Chad heads towards Russia’s protectorate

Chad is likely to become the next African nation where Russia is going to replace the Western footprint. This perspective goes in line with the Kremlin’s pattern of ousting Paris…

April 30, 2024Chad, France, Russia, Wagner Group

Democracy War crimes

The worsening insurgency and insecurity in Mali

One of the major reasons the junta in Bamako gave for taking power from civilian rulers was the worsening insurgency and insecurity in Mali. According to them, and other coup makers…

March 29, 2024Mali, Wagner Group

Wagner Group