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Former Wagner Group Commanders Confess to Human Rights Abuses in Ukraine
Two Russian men, identifying themselves as former commanders of the Wagner Group, have confessed to committing atrocities, including the killing of children and civilians during their service in Ukraine.
Their chilling accounts were featured in video interviews conducted by Gulagu.net, a human rights organization focused on combating corruption and torture in Russia.
In the recorded statements, Azamat Uldarov and Alexey Savichev, both former Russian convicts who were pardoned last year through presidential decrees, revealed harrowing details of their actions while participating in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite CNN being unable to independently verify the claims or the identities of the men, Russian penal documents have confirmed their release in September and August of 2022 following presidential pardons.
Uldarov, appearing visibly distressed and possibly inebriated, recounted a particularly shocking incident where he shot a young girl, estimated to be five or six years old. “It was a management decision,” he explained. “I wasn’t allowed to let anyone out alive, my command was to kill anything in my way.”
These confessions were made over a series of interviews with Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of Gulagu.net, while both men were still in Russia, according to the organization.
“I want Russia and other nations to know the truth. I don’t want war and bloodshed,” Uldarov declared, highlighting his desire for transparency. Showcasing the cigarette in his hand, he admitted using that very hand to kill children as per orders.
The Wagner Group, led by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, is a private mercenary organization fighting in Ukraine. It has recruited tens of thousands of fighters from Russian prisons, offering them freedom and monetary rewards after a six-month deployment. Estimates from Western intelligence and prison advocacy groups place the number of recruited inmates between 40,000 and 50,000.
Uldarov provided further details about their operations in the embattled eastern Ukrainian cities of Soledar and Bakhmut, stating that Wagner mercenaries were ordered to “annihilate everyone”. He maintained that Prigozhin, who had authority over all commanders, had mandated this ruthless directive.
While CNN has documented similar accounts from other former Wagner fighters, Uldarov has also recanted his testimony in a subsequent video call with a Prigozhin-affiliated Russian news agency.
Savichev described an order to execute any male individuals aged 15 or older and recounted being instructed to ‘sweep’ houses, regardless of civilian presence. He recalled not caring who might be inside as the directive was to ensure no one was left alive.
The men also claimed that Wagner fighters who disobeyed orders faced execution.
In response to the video, Prigozhin acknowledged viewing parts of it and dismissed the allegations as false. He suggested holding those who accused him accountable, implying punitive measures against them. Prigozhin vehemently denied any targeting of civilians or children, calling such accusations blatant lies.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, asserted on Twitter that the Wagner Group must face justice for their crimes. “Russian terrorists confessed to numerous murders of Ukrainian children. Confession is not enough. There must be a punishment. Tough and fair, and it will come,” he stated.
Previous reports by CNN have exposed the brutal tactics employed by Wagner, including using recruited convicts as front-line forces and executing deserters. In January, the US Treasury Department designated the Wagner Group as a significant transnational criminal organization, introducing new sanctions against it.
The US Department of State announced complementary measures targeting various aspects of Wagner’s operations, including an aviation firm, a propaganda outlet, and front companies associated with the group, aiming to disrupt its infrastructure and support.
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