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by Mark Galeotti.
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 64 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: The Wagner Group and Other Russian PMCs
PMC is Private Military Company, which is essentially a mercenary company, while PSC is Private Security Company, which usually handles security of personnel, often VIPs, and installations.
The Wagner Group is a PMC and if you followed the news the last few years, you’ve heard about the rise and fall of Wagner and its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. This booklet traces its origins, in part via Syria and Africa, until it ended up in Ukraine in a combat role. All the rivalries between Wagner and the Russian military are explained.
Wagner was decimated in Ukraine, even after it recruited inmates from Russian prisons, until Putin decided to integrate Wagner and other PMCs into the military. Prigozhin objected and began a march on Moscow, not to overthrow Putin, but to gain an exemption. Ultimately, Putin and Prigozhin struck a deal and then Putin allegedly had Prigozhin assassinated via plane crash. End of Wagner.
The booklet contains one black and white photo, 50 color photos, two color illustrations, 21 color uniform illustrations, three color vehicle illustrations, 16 color patches illustrations, and four color maps.
While I could have done without the first few pages of historical mercenaries, the rest flowed well.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
