Wagner Group

Putin’s Valdai hideout is now a fortress, ringed by missiles, jets, and elite guards—his most secure retreat in Russia.

Stay on top of the news with the SOFREP Evening Brief: Top updates on defense and global affairs for Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Already bogged down in a perpetual ten-year war that has not yet captured a fully occupied oblast or reached any military objective, the Neo Russian Empire Putin envisioned he would have, akin to Peter the Great, is now rapidly taking heavy losses simultaneously in various regions akin to the last Tsar, Nicholas II. Time will tell if Vladimir Putin’s disastrous imperial ambitions will leave him in the same fate as Nicholas II.

Booby-Trapped AK-47 Magazines are beginning to show up in Ukraine. Here is how they are made and how they represent the calling card of a particular Russian unit operating in the country.

East Africa’s regional conflicts could intertwine if another world war were to break out akin to Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia; major players are aligning to interests in Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and even Kenya. Not talked about as much in mainstream media, MSM should cover East Africa more, as, eventually, our national interests could intertwine with theirs.

The resurgence of extremist groups in West Africa intertwines with various socioeconomic and geopolitical events such as corruption, authoritarian juntas, foreign interference, and deteriorating stabilization in the Sahel. With a lack of cooperation amongst local and regional blocs, groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS could make a comeback and choose the Sahel as their new haven.

The 21st century’s urban warfare, marked by brutal, close-quarters combat in cities like Aleppo, Mosul, Mariupol, Bakhmut, and Gaza, has drastically evolved, challenging traditional military doctrines and underscoring the devastating impact of such conflicts on civilian populations and urban landscapes.

Mercenaries in modern warfare are reshaping global conflicts, evolving from historical figures to corporate powerhouses.

The liquidation of the Wagner Group’s leadership has both pros and cons for Vladimir Putin. As a positive, he no longer has radical elements that will openly challenge his leadership, and as a negative, he now has to frankly take over the PMC’s illicit operations, which could further degrade and destroy the Russian economy with further sanctions.

France’s influence in Africa is shifting as the coup in Gabon sparks change. The era of ‘Françafrique’ may be coming to an end.

The UK has resolutely designated Russia’s Wagner Group, notorious for its global conflicts and alleged abuses, as a “terrorist organization,” amplifying its commitment to safeguarding democracy and international security.

France and Russia’s geopolitical disputes have affected tens of millions, and West Africa has gradually become their new regional fight for influence. Overall, Africa’s future can only be decided by Africans and not outside world powers, whether it is Russia or France.