White House Says Wagner Group Becoming Rival Power Center to Russian Defense Ministry

NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications says the Wagner Group is becoming a "rival power center" to the Russian military and other Russian ministries in Ukraine. Kirby notes recent public criticism of Russian Defense Ministry officials and generals over battlefield performance. He says the mercenary group is making decisions to advance its own interests and it's estimated it has about 50,000 personnel deployed to Ukraine. Kirby also confirms shipments of weapons from North Korea to the group and announces new sanctions against it, including designating the group as a "military end user" and a "transnational criminal organization." close