The Russian paramilitary group Wagner opened its first headquarters in Saint Petersburg, Russia on Friday, an AFP journalist noted.
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Yevgeny Prigozhin, who recently confirmed that he founded the top-secret group and deployed to countries in Latin America, Africa and Ukraine, announced the opening of the office on National Unity Day. in a press release published on the website of his company Concord.
The multi-story, glass-fronted building topped with a large white sign marked “Wagner” opened on Friday.
Individuals in camouflage uniforms wandered the gray hallways of the building, looking at an exhibit featuring drones.
“The mission of the PMC Wagner Center is to provide a comfortable environment for generating new ideas to improve Russia’s defense capability,” Prigozhin said in his statement.
Last month, Yevgeny Prigozhin put an end to years of rumors by admitting to having founded the group. For years the Wagner Group has been suspected of playing a role in furthering Moscow’s ambitions abroad, with the Kremlin denying any connection.
The group — and its leader — played an increasingly important role in the offensive in Ukraine launched by Russia last February.