British Defence Intelligence: Lukashenka Funds Wagner Group From Belarusian State Budget

Russia gives the mercenaries no money.

There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group. The Belarusian authorities are likely paying the mercenaries.

The British MoD reported on Twitter.

The British Defence Intelligence believes that the Wagner Group is likely moving towards a down-sizing and reconfiguration process, largely to save on staff salary expenses at a time of financial pressure.

The report reads that since the abortive mutiny of June 2023, the Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin.

There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group. If the Russian state no longer pays Wagner, the second most plausible paymasters are the Belarusian authorities,” the intelligence report reads.

At the same time, the UK services emphasize that such expenses would be "an unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources".