Russia’s feared mercenary Wagner group has allegedly been training Hamas terrorists with the attacks on Israel having “Russian hands” on it, an expert has claimed.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, had offered to find a “peaceful solution” while also offering to back Hamas with “units ready” to do so. But now, according to an ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine, Russia might already be involved in the conflict, with its Wagner forces supposedly training fighters through its Syria base – and with Hamas using some of the group’s signature moves.
Petro Poroshenko, speaking to Euractiv, said: “I’m absolutely convinced that there is Russian interest, Russian hands, in the preparation of the Hamas terror attack on Israel.
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Hamas has been trained by Wagner, an expert has claimed
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“I have known it since 2014 when the first Wagner group appeared in the east of my country. I know the signature of Wagner from their attacks in Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, Soledar, Bakhmut. “This is exactly Wagner tactics. I’m absolutely sure that the Russian Wagner instructors in Syria were transferred to Hamas in Gaza and participated in the training of terrorists to prepare the absolutely barbaric attack on Israel from the Gaza strip.”
More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed by Hamas terrorists – the group was proscribed as a terror organisation by the UK Government in 2021 – with around 1,100 being killed in Gaza. It is thought that there are around 130 hostages in Gaza, with around 17 of those being either British nationals or having a British passport.
Wagner forces are in neighbouring Syria
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Poroshenko’s comments were backed up by the General SVR Telegram channel, a Russian anti-Puin channel. They said: “Representatives of the Wagner PMC (Private Military Company) and the Redut PMC took part in the preparation of Hamas militants for an attack on Israel, in coordination with the Russian leadership.”
Putin – who did at one point have a close relationship with Israel, but that appears to have deteriorated over the last few years – has commented on the issue, but blamed it on the United States. He said: “I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East.”
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