mercenaries

The former Wagner commander, Andrei Medvedev, has fled to Norway. His lawyer, Brynjulf ​​Risnes, revealed Medvedev’s testimony to Reuters.

Medvedev escaped by crossing the Russian-Norwegian border on 13 January. He said he feared for his life after witnessing what he said was the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners brought to the Ukrainian battlefield to fight for Wagner.

Also read: Declared a Criminal Organization, Boss of the Russian Wagner Mercenaries Letters to the US

Medvedev is living in a secret location in the Oslo area after being released from custody on Wednesday, following an “argument” with police about the steps being taken to ensure his safety.

Risnes told Reuters that Medvedev had seen some “very dire” situations when he fought for the Wagner Group last fall.

“He had witnessed the shooting of his colleagues while he was watching because they were trying to escape,” Risnes said in an interview, citing Medvedev.

“The Russians are slowly accepting what happened,” said Risnes, who was quoted on Friday (27/1/2023).

“Her life was chaotic and dangerous and very stressful for a very long time,” added Risnes. “Especially, of course, during the fall when he was in Ukraine with the Wagner group.”

“But of course, his life was also not easy before,” he explained.

Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin announced his troops had taken control of all of Soledar but said fighting was still raging in the city centre.

Also read: Ukrainian Forces Besiege, Russian Mercenaries Seize Entire Soledar

On Wednesday, he made no mention of the continuing clashes.

“I want to confirm the full liberation and clearing of the Soledar area from units of the Ukrainian army… Ukrainian units that did not want to surrender were destroyed,” he said in a statement, as quoted ReutersThursday (12/1/2023).

“Wagner’s troops killed about 500 people. The whole city was strewn with the corpses of Ukrainian soldiers,” he said.

But minutes before Prigozhin’s remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed claims the Wagner Group controlled all of Soledar and said fighting was continuing.

Also read: Ukraine Rejects Claim Russian Mercenaries Take Entire Soledar

The Ukrainian military has also dismissed claims by the Wagner Group that it has seized the entire Soledar region in Donetsk. The fall of the region to the Moscow troops, if it does happen, will pave the way for the occupation of other areas of the Donbass.

“Soledar is, is and will be, [milik] the Ukrainian people,” the Ukrainian military strategic communications unit was quoted as saying AFP.

The unit said the images released by the Wagner Group, which Russian media say were taken in Soledar, had been taken elsewhere.

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