Lukashenko: Wagner PMC experience can be useful

The experience of the Wagner Private Military Company’s commanders – gained during combat operations in different countries – can be useful for the Belarusian military in terms of training tactics and defence, and that was voiced during today’s report of Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin to the President of Belarus

“There is much talk now about the Wagner group, but people do not understand that we are also pragmatic about this. If its commanders – as we have reasoned with you – come to us and help, sharing their experience… Actually, these are assault detachments, acting on the front line. [They can] tell us what is important right now,” Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed the Defence Minister.

According to the Head of State, he discussed the topic of the peculiarities of modern warfare with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin – focusing on the importance of such elements as counter-battery warfare and the use of UAVs. The Wagner group fighters are well acquainted with all this, so the President continued, “They have experienced that. They will tell us about the weapons, explaining which of them work well and which are not so good. We will meet with them. We should ask their commanders urgently – while they are probably out of business – to meet with our commanders at the training grounds, show and explain everything to them – including such aspects as tactics, weapons, how to attack and defend. This knowledge is valuable, and we should learn it from the Wagnerians. We need to use now the experience of this war in Ukraine and, especially, on the part of Wagner.”

According to the President, the Wagner group unites military specialists of the highest level. “Among them are super-specialists, who have been gathered from all over Russia, all over the world. There were even a couple of Belarusians in the leadership. I have asked them to visit your headquarters as well – to show how it is necessary to prepare for a modern war. This is very important. There is no need to be afraid of them. These are the same Russian, Soviet and modern people as we are. After all, we also keep our eyes open,” he said.