Journalists Shine a Light on the Wagner Group: A Close Look at Russia’s Mercenary Army – CPH:DOX
EXCLUSIVE: The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, once boasted tens of thousands of soldiers and operated in Ukraine, Syria, and multiple African nations, leaving a trail of death and alleged war crimes in its wake.
The upcoming documentary, Hell’s Army, directed by Richard Rowley, explores the rise of this enigmatic group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ex-convict turned oligarch who initially operated under the protection of Vladimir Putin. The film is set to premiere on Monday, March 16, at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen as part of the festival’s F:ACT Competition.
An exclusive clip from the film offers a first glimpse into its content.
Based on the investigative efforts of journalists Katya Hakim and Denis Korotkov, the documentary sheds light on Wagner’s covert operations in Africa, picking up after three of their colleagues were murdered while investigating the group’s activities. Their findings suggest that Wagner represents “a new model of violence that is transforming the world for all of us.”
In a director’s statement, Rowley described the film’s narrative as a journey through Prigozhin’s tumultuous reign, detailing his ventures across Ukraine, Syria, and Central Africa, ultimately returning to Ukraine before his death in a plane crash in August 2023. “Prigozhin unleashes something terrible onto the world. A private army that tortures, kills, and dies to prop up autocrats, while seizing oil fields and gold mines,” Rowley remarked.
He further noted, “When his plane falls out of the sky, an even more terrifying truth is revealed. Prigozhin was just a minor figure in a state that has been captured by mercenaries who are bigger than he ever managed to become.”
Rowley emphasized that the documentary initially aimed to address the reemergence of a paradigm of warfare not seen on such a large scale in over a century. “Mercenaries are a symptom of a deeper and more terrifying problem,” he stated.
“Democracies don’t need mercenary armies. They are what states turn to when they’ve been taken over by thugs and gangsters. When soldiers are reduced to murderers, and the nation itself is debased into nothing more than a tool of private greed,” Rowley added.
In addition to its world premiere on March 16, Hell’s Army will also be screened at CPH:DOX on March 18, 19, and 22. The film is produced by Richard Butler, Oscar nominee Atanas Georgiev (Honeyland), Oscar winner Odessa Rae (Navalny), Rebecca Teitel, and Caitlin McNally, with editing by Atanas Georgiev and music composed by Brian McOmber.
In the clip below, a former Wagner mercenary reflects on his experiences within the private army.
