American Prestige E333 - The Wagner Group and the New Era of Private War w/ John Lechner
14 snips
Nov 4, 2025 
In this discussion, journalist John Lechner, author of *Death Is Our Business*, explores the complex world of the Wagner Group and its notorious leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. With roots in post-Soviet chaos, Prigozhin evolved from a caterer to a military entrepreneur, blurring lines between state and private military forces. Lechner reveals Wagner's unique business model, the company's expansion into Africa, and the controversies surrounding its tactics in Ukraine. The conversation also delves into the implications of Prigozhin's dramatic rise and suspicious death.
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Privatization Reshaped Modern War
- Privatization reshaped modern warfare by outsourcing many military functions to contractors.
- This trend mirrors U.S. practices after the draft ended and opened space for global private military entrepreneurs.
From Street Gang To Kremlin Caterer
- Yevgeny Prigozhin rose from St. Petersburg street gangs to become a restaurateur who catered Russia's elite.
- He leveraged those connections, including to Vladimir Putin, to win lucrative state catering contracts and enter politics-adjacent business.
Early Syrian PMC Ambush
- A 2013 Russian PMC mission in Syria to defend oil fields turned into an ambush when hired to seize them from ISIS.
- The operation embarrassed the contractors and led to arrests, shaping later deniable Russian deployments.
