PUTIN'S SPECIAL FORCES United States to list Wagner Group as criminal group and expand sanctions

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The United States plans to declare the Wagner group, a Russian private military corporation, an international criminal organization and impose additional sanctions on the company linked to the Kremlin.

In addition to the Treasury Department's decision to designate Wagner as a "transnational criminal organization," the Joe Biden administration will impose economic sanctions on the organization and its support network next week, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

"These actions recognize the transcontinental threat that Wagner poses, including a continuous pattern of serious criminal activity," Kirby said, adding: "Our message to any company that is considering providing support to the Wagner group is simple: Wagner is a criminal organization that commits widespread crimes and human rights abuses."

According to US estimates, the Wagner group has about 50,000 members deployed in Ukraine to support Russia's war efforts in that country.

The Russian military corporation has played a key role in Russia's recent successes in Donbas, and is involved in other conflicts around the world, including Libya, the Central African Republic, and Mali.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group's leader, said on Thursday that his mercenaries had "completely taken control" of Klishchiivka, a key suburb of the city of Bakhmut, through which Ukrainian troops were supplied with weapons and military equipment.

Prigozhin said fierce fighting continued around Klishchiivka.

"Contrary to various opinions that the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) are fleeing Artemovsk (the Russian name for Bakhmut), this is not the case. The AFU are acting clearly and smoothly. We have a lot to learn from them. But in any case, Wagner PMC units are moving forward meter by meter. The settlement of Artemovsk will be captured," Prigozhin said at the time.