logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
27m 6s

Russia’s mercenary army

Vox
About this episode

The Wagner Group, a superviolent (and supersecretive) team of Kremlin-aligned mercenaries, is doing Vladimir Putin’s dirty work in Ukraine and around the world.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, engineered by Paul Mounsey, and edited by Matt Collette (who also did the fact-check) and Noel King (who also hosted).

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained  

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
The future of vaccines
Trump 1.0 got us safe COVID vaccines in record time. Trump 2.0 is trying to take the vaccines away. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Denise Guerra, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Tatasciore and Andrea Kristinsdottir with ... Show More
25m 52s
Aug 25
AI took your job
Hundreds of job applications, but not one call. Young workers are frustrated, scared, and wondering where all the entry-level jobs went. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Rebeca Ibarra, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boy ... Show More
26m 14s
Aug 24
The golden age of exercise
Americans are flocking to gyms and fitness classes. It wasn't always that way. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy with help from Naureen Khan, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Phot ... Show More
30m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Putin’s chef spoils the broth: mutiny in Russia
Yevgeny Prigozhin, nicknamed “Putin’s chef”, leads the Wagner Group of mercenaries fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. He had lambasted Russia’s military leaders for months, but the mutiny he began over the weekend lasted less than a day. Nevertheless it is a sharp blow ... Show More
27m 14s
Mar 2022
Milice Wagner : la mystérieuse armée secrète de Vladimir Poutine
C’est une menace de plus dans la guerre que mène Vladimir Poutine contre Kiev. Selon le quotidien britannique The Times, 400 mercenaires russes de la force Wagner auraient été envoyés en Ukraine afin d’éliminer le président du pays, Volodymyr Zelenski. Depuis son apparition vers ... Show More
25m 29s
May 2023
How Russia’s Wagner group took over the Central African Republic
Russia’s Wagner group – already dominant in the conflict in Ukraine – has become the de facto boss in the diamond-rich Central African Republic, where the mercenary force influences not just politics but the economy and culture. So how did this happen? And which country might be ... Show More
32m 27s
Aug 2023
Wagner Paramilitary Group Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Killed
P.M. Edition for Aug. 23. Yevgeny Prigozhin, who challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority in a short-lived uprising, was killed in a plane crash northwest of Moscow, according to Russian authorities. Chief foreign affairs correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov has more. P ... Show More
15m 5s
Jun 2023
Putin’s chef spoils the broth: mutiny in Russia
Yevgeny Prigozhin, nicknamed “Putin’s chef”, leads the Wagner Group of mercenaries fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. He had lambasted Russia’s military leaders for months, but the mutiny he began over the weekend lasted less than a day. Nevertheless it is a sharp blow ... Show More
27m 14s
Feb 2022
Ukrainecast: The Battle for Kyiv
Ukraine government gives out guns as Russian forces approach... Victoria, Gabriel and Vitaliy talk through how the conflict has unfolded. Olga Malchevska, from the BBC Ukrainian Service in London, tells of how her family home was targeted, and Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark U ... Show More
34m 34s
Mar 2022
Voice notes from Ukraine
Before the war, Vladimir was a film producer and Yuriy was a journalist. Daria works in marketing, Andrii is a musician, and Anna is a human resources manager for an IT company. This week we asked five Ukrainians to send us some voice messages, documenting their thoughts and feel ... Show More
11m 43s