Russia has sent mercenaries to kill Ukraine President Zelensky, says Britain

Russian mercenary company Wagner Group is being used by Russia to try to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the British government says.

Russian mercenary company Wagner Group is being used by Russia to try to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the British government says.

The group of hired soldiers was “reportedly tasked” with killing Mr Zelensky, the UK government said as it announced sanctions against Wagner. It didn’t provide evidence or further details.

Wagner emerged from Russia’s covert interventions in eastern Ukraine in 2014, where the Kremlin worked with armed groups funded by politically connected Russian businessmen. Wagner was financed in part by multimillion-dollar catering and construction contracts for the Russian armed forces awarded to companies linked with Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former restaurateur, according to European officials.

A representative of Mr Prigozhin called into question the existence of Wagner Group and said questions about the British claim represented “a severe psychosis of Western media”.

The company couldn’t be reached for comment.

Wagner has already been sanctioned by the EU, which accuses it of being a proxy force for Russia’s defence ministry.

The Kremlin has in the past denied any formal connections with the group.

UK officials have in recent weeks spoken of their worry about Mr Zelensky’s safety and numerous reports of attempts on his life.

The Wall Street Journal