FRANCE 24 spoke to Andrey Medvedev, a deserter of Russia's Wagner Group, almost two months after he fled to Norway. The 26-year-old Russian ex-mercenary entered the country illegally on January 13 in a bid to seek asylum there. Speaking from Oslo, Medvedev explained that he "witnessed many things" while fighting with the Wagner Group in Ukraine. However, he said he was unable to talk in detail about them and was keeping this information for Norwegian investigators. Medvedev also apologised to the Ukrainian people.
Medvedev, who fought for the paramilitary Wagner Group in Ukraine between July and November 2022, fled to Norway after deserting. He told FRANCE 24 he did so because of the "methods" and "orders" of Wagner's commanding officers. According to the former mercenary, the men were sent into battle as "cannon fodder".
He said he took the risk of fleeing despite knowing that Wagner deserters suffered "very, very severe consequences", such as the execution of one of them with a sledgehammer, a horrific scene filmed and made public by Wagner.
The former mercenary said he "witnessed many things" in Ukraine, but admitted he could not talk in more detail about them. He denied that Wagner's regular fighters have committed atrocities against civilians, but said that the group's commanding officers have things to be ashamed of. He refused to give any further details about these crimes, saying that he reserved this information for Norwegian investigators.
Wagner chief Prigozhin is 'mad' and 'his own men will kill him'
Asked about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Medvedev said he saw him in a training centre, where he was encouraging his men by saying that the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut had already been almost conquered. The former mercenary explained that he himself expressed his disagreement and was subsequently locked up in a container for several days. Medvedev called Prigozhin "mad", saying the Wagner chief "thinks that he can do anything he wants". "Once this whole display, spectacle is over, I think that his own men will kill him," he predicted.
He added, however, that Prigozhin continues to obey Russian President Vladimir Putin, otherwise he would no longer be there. But Medvedev said he was "surprised" at Prigozhin's recent public appearances, which included denouncing Wagner's lack of logistical support and ammunition.
The former mercenary apologised to the Ukrainian people "for being part of this". Yet he insisted on the fact that one should not confuse the people of Russia, who are victims of pro-war "propaganda", with the Russian leaders, who decided this war.
The deserter is hoping to obtain asylum in Norway. He said that if he is sent back to Russia, he will at least have "told the truth" and is "prepared to pay the price for that".
