WEATHER ALERT
Russia's Wagner has deadliest loss in Africa’s Sahel, highlighting the region's instability
Read full article: Russia's Wagner has deadliest loss in Africa’s Sahel, highlighting the region's instabilityDozens of Wagner mercenaries were killed by jihadis and rebels over the weekend in northern Mali in what one analyst describes as the largest battleground blow to the shadowy Russian group in years.
Nerve agents, poison and window falls. Kremlin foes have been attacked or killed over the years
Read full article: Nerve agents, poison and window falls. Kremlin foes have been attacked or killed over the yearsKremlin critics, turncoat spies and investigative journalists have been attacked or killed in a variety of ways.
Putin will seek another term as Russian president, aiming to extend his rule of over two decades
Read full article: Putin will seek another term as Russian president, aiming to extend his rule of over two decadesVladimir Putin has moved to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for at least another six years, announcing his candidacy in the presidential election next March that he is all but certain to win.
Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of victims in Prigozhin's plane crash, Putin claims
Read full article: Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of victims in Prigozhin's plane crash, Putin claimsRussian President Vladimir Putin says that hand grenade fragments have been found in the bodies of people who died in an August crash of a plane carrying Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
30 years ago, the Kremlin crushed a parliamentary uprising, leading to strong presidential rule
Read full article: 30 years ago, the Kremlin crushed a parliamentary uprising, leading to strong presidential ruleThree decades ago, the world held its breath as tanks blasted the Russian parliament building in central Moscow while the Kremlin moved to flush out rebellious lawmakers in a crisis that shaped the country’s post-Soviet history.
A month after Prigozhin’s suspicious death, the Kremlin is silent on his plane crash and legacy
Read full article: A month after Prigozhin’s suspicious death, the Kremlin is silent on his plane crash and legacyA month after Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a suspicious plane crash, the Kremlin seems to be succeeding in keeping the demise of the profane and outspoken Wagner chief as low-key as possible.
Kremlin says 'deliberate wrongdoing' is a possible cause of the plane crash that killed Wagner chief
Read full article: Kremlin says 'deliberate wrongdoing' is a possible cause of the plane crash that killed Wagner chiefThe Kremlin's spokesperson says “deliberate wrongdoing” is among the possible causes of the plane crash that killed Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin last week.
Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is buried in private, ending his tumultuous journey
Read full article: Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is buried in private, ending his tumultuous journeyA private burial has been held for Yevgeny Prigozhin, ending a tumultuous journey from St. Petersburg street thug to Kremlin-financed mercenary leader.
Russia's Wagner mercenaries face uncertainty after the presumed death of their leader in plane crash
Read full article: Russia's Wagner mercenaries face uncertainty after the presumed death of their leader in plane crashThe Wagner Group’s presence extends from Syria to Africa, projecting the Kremlin’s global influence with mercenaries accused of using brutal force.
Kremlin denies role in plane crash believed to have killed Russian mercenary leader Prigozhin
Read full article: Kremlin denies role in plane crash believed to have killed Russian mercenary leader PrigozhinPresident Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has rejected allegations that the Kremlin was behind a plane crash that is presumed to have killed mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
What we know — and don't know — about the crash of a Russian mercenary's plane
Read full article: What we know — and don't know — about the crash of a Russian mercenary's planeThe head of a Russian mercenary group who launched a rebellion against Moscow’s military leadership in June is presumed dead after a mysterious plane crash.
Prigozhin's purported demise seems intended to send a clear message to potential Kremlin foes
Read full article: Prigozhin's purported demise seems intended to send a clear message to potential Kremlin foesWhen Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his armed rebellion that challenged the Kremlin, Western officials predicted Russian President Vladimir Putin would seek vengeance against the mercenary leader.
The downed Russian jet carried Wagner's hierarchy, from Prigozhin's No. 2 to his bodyguards
Read full article: The downed Russian jet carried Wagner's hierarchy, from Prigozhin's No. 2 to his bodyguardsThe manifest of the plane that went down in Russia is essentially a who’s who for the Wagner mercenary group: The second-in-command, who baptized Wagner with his nom de guerre, the logistics chief and a fighter wounded by U.S. airstrikes in Syria.
US intelligence says an intentional explosion brought down Wagner chief Prigozhin’s plane
Read full article: US intelligence says an intentional explosion brought down Wagner chief Prigozhin’s planeA preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that an intentional explosion caused the plane crash presumed to have killed a Russian mercenary leader.
Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin challenged the Kremlin in a brief mutiny
Read full article: Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin challenged the Kremlin in a brief mutinyYevgeny Prigozhin made his name as the profane and brutal mercenary boss who mounted an armed rebellion that was the most severe and shocking challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead in a plane crash outside Moscow
Read full article: Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead in a plane crash outside MoscowRussia’s civil aviation agency says mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was on a plane that crashed north of Moscow, killing all 10 people aboard.
A top Russian general linked to the head of a rebellious mercenary group is reportedly dismissed
Read full article: A top Russian general linked to the head of a rebellious mercenary group is reportedly dismissedRussian media reports that Gen. Sergei Surovikin, a former commander of Moscow's forces in Ukraine who was linked to the leader of an armed rebellion, has been dismissed from his job as chief of the air force.
Russian missiles kill at least 6 in Zelenskyy's hometown in central Ukraine
Read full article: Russian missiles kill at least 6 in Zelenskyy's hometown in central UkraineUkrainian officials say Russian ballistic missiles have slammed into an apartment complex and a university building in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown.
Lawmakers say the UK should ban Russia's Wagner as a terrorist group
Read full article: Lawmakers say the UK should ban Russia's Wagner as a terrorist groupBritish lawmakers say the U.K. has underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization.
Mali's army and suspected Russia-linked mercenaries committed 'new atrocities,' rights group says
Read full article: Mali's army and suspected Russia-linked mercenaries committed 'new atrocities,' rights group saysHuman Rights Watch says it has found evidence of new summary executions, lootings, forced disappearances and other abuses committed in Mali by the army suspected Russia-linked Wagner group mercenaries.
Russia arrests a hard-line nationalist who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine
Read full article: Russia arrests a hard-line nationalist who accused Putin of weakness in UkraineA prominent Russian hard-line nationalist who accused President Vladimir Putin of weakness in Ukraine has been arrested on charges of extremism, a signal the Kremlin has toughened its approach with hawkish critics after last month’s abortive rebellion by the Wagner mercenary company.
Russia's Wagner mercenaries launch joint training with Belarusian military near Poland's border
Read full article: Russia's Wagner mercenaries launch joint training with Belarusian military near Poland's borderMercenaries from Russia’s military company Wagner have launched joint drills with the Belarusian military almost a month after their short-lived rebellion.
Video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin for first time since short-lived mutiny
Read full article: Video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin for first time since short-lived mutinyA new video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin for the first time since he led a short-lived rebellion last month, and he is seen telling his troops they will spend time in Belarus training its military before deploying to Africa.
Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutiny
Read full article: Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutinyMore mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner military contractor have rolled into Belarus, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month’s short-lived mutiny.
Putin says he offered Wagner mercenaries the option to stay as a single unit
Read full article: Putin says he offered Wagner mercenaries the option to stay as a single unitRussian President Vladimir Putin says he offered mercenaries from the Wagner private military company the chance to keep serving as single unit under the same commander.
Top general's dismissal reveals new crack in Russian military leadership
Read full article: Top general's dismissal reveals new crack in Russian military leadershipA Russian general in charge of forces fighting in southern Ukraine has been relieved of his duties after speaking out about the problems faced by his troops.
Russia's Defense Ministry says Wagner mercenaries are surrendering their weapons to the military
Read full article: Russia's Defense Ministry says Wagner mercenaries are surrendering their weapons to the militaryRussia’s Defense Ministry says mercenaries of the Wagner Group are completing the handover of their weapons to the military.
Russian mercenary leader Prigozhin's commanders met Putin after short-lived mutiny, pledged loyalty
Read full article: Russian mercenary leader Prigozhin's commanders met Putin after short-lived mutiny, pledged loyaltyThe Kremlin says mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's commanders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin five days after staging a short-lived rebellion.
Belarus shows off a military camp to host Russia's Wagner mercenaries after a failed mutiny
Read full article: Belarus shows off a military camp to host Russia's Wagner mercenaries after a failed mutinyThe Belarusian military has shown off a field camp it has offered to Russia’s Wagner military contractor if it relocates to Belarus under a deal that ended its mutiny.
Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal system
Read full article: Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal systemRussia’s rebellious mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin walked free from prosecution for his June 24 armed mutiny, and it’s still unclear if anyone will face any charges in the brief uprising against the military or for the deaths of the soldiers killed in it.
Belarus says Wagner chief who staged mutiny is in Russia, raising questions about Kremlin's strategy
Read full article: Belarus says Wagner chief who staged mutiny is in Russia, raising questions about Kremlin's strategyThe president of Belarus says the mercenary leader who led a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin is in Russia and his troops are in their field camps.
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow as Kyiv's counteroffensive grinds on
Read full article: Russia says it foiled Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow as Kyiv's counteroffensive grinds onThe Russian military says it has fended off a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow that prompted authorities to briefly close one of the city's airports.
Putin will speak with leaders of China and India in his first summit since the Wagner insurrection
Read full article: Putin will speak with leaders of China and India in his first summit since the Wagner insurrectionPresident Vladimir Putin will participate this week in his first multilateral summit since an armed rebellion rattled Russia.
Russian media watchdog blacklists outlets linked to Wagner mercenary chief
Read full article: Russian media watchdog blacklists outlets linked to Wagner mercenary chiefThe Russian media watchdog has blacklisted at least five media outlets affiliated with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and blocked their websites in Russia.
The key players in last weekend's armed rebellion in Russia
Read full article: The key players in last weekend's armed rebellion in RussiaKey players in events stemming from last weekend's armed rebellion in Russia include mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Gen. Sergei Surovikin.
A week after an armed rebellion rattled Russia, key details about it are still shrouded in mystery
Read full article: A week after an armed rebellion rattled Russia, key details about it are still shrouded in mysteryA week after the mutiny raised the most daunting challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s rule in over two decades, key details about the uprising remain shrouded in mystery.
Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources say
Read full article: Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources sayGen. Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of the Russian group of forces fighting in Ukraine, has been detained days after mercenaries staged a revolt inside Russia.
Belarus leader welcomes Wagner forces but others in the country see them as a threat
Read full article: Belarus leader welcomes Wagner forces but others in the country see them as a threatAs life in Russia returns to normal after an armed rebellion by a mercenary group, tensions are rising in and around its neighbor Belarus, where the exiled leader of the force and some of its fighters are settling in.
Recapping the revolt in Russia, through the words of 4 presidents and a mutinous warlord
Read full article: Recapping the revolt in Russia, through the words of 4 presidents and a mutinous warlordThe dramatic rebellion by a mercenary warlord in Russia that challenged President Vladimir Putin was punctuated by dramatic language of the key protagonists – and some long silences.
Missile kills 11 in a popular Ukrainian pizza parlor as Russia's aerial barrage continues
Read full article: Missile kills 11 in a popular Ukrainian pizza parlor as Russia's aerial barrage continuesUkraine’s counterintelligence service has arrested a man it accuses of helping Russia direct a missile strike at a popular pizza restaurant.
Failed Wagner revolt leaves a question in Africa: Will the ruthless mercenaries remain?
Read full article: Failed Wagner revolt leaves a question in Africa: Will the ruthless mercenaries remain?The Russian mercenary group that briefly rebelled against President Vladimir Putin’s authority has for years been a ruthless force-for-hire across Africa, protecting rulers at the expense of the masses.
Wagner chief walks free after armed revolt. Other Russians defying the Kremlin aren’t so lucky
Read full article: Wagner chief walks free after armed revolt. Other Russians defying the Kremlin aren’t so luckyMercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led an armed rebellion against the Russian military — and got away with it.
Prigozhin has moved to Belarus, and Russia won’t press charges for mutiny
Read full article: Prigozhin has moved to Belarus, and Russia won’t press charges for mutinyBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin has arrived in Belarus after his short-lived armed mutiny in Russia.
A Wagner ex-convict returned from war and a Russian village lived in fear. Then he killed again
Read full article: A Wagner ex-convict returned from war and a Russian village lived in fear. Then he killed againSome convicts recruited by Russia's private military contractor Wagner to fight in the war in Ukraine are coming home and committing new crimes.
The reason US response to the Russia rebellion has been decidedly cautious
Read full article: The reason US response to the Russia rebellion has been decidedly cautiousOn the surface, the turmoil in Russia would seem like something for the U.S. to celebrate: a powerful mercenary group engaging in a short-lived clash with Russia’s military at the very moment that Ukraine is trying to gain momentum in a critical counteroffensive.
US sanctions head of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali, accused of arms trafficking for Ukraine fight
Read full article: US sanctions head of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali, accused of arms trafficking for Ukraine fightThe U.S. is imposing sanctions on the leader of Russia's Wagner paramilitary group in Mali.
US sending $500 million in weapons, military aid to Ukraine
Read full article: US sending $500 million in weapons, military aid to UkraineThe Biden administration is sending up to $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more than 50 heavily armored vehicles and an infusion of missiles for air defense systems.
Biden calls mutiny a ‘struggle within the Russian system’ and says US not involved
Read full article: Biden calls mutiny a ‘struggle within the Russian system’ and says US not involvedPresident Joe Biden says the United States and NATO had no involvement in the short-lived insurrection in Russia by the Wagner mercenary force.
Chaos in Russia is morale booster for Ukraine as it pushes on with early stages of counteroffensive
Read full article: Chaos in Russia is morale booster for Ukraine as it pushes on with early stages of counteroffensiveThe armed rebellion against the Russian military may have ended quickly, but the disarray within the enemy’s ranks was an unexpected gift and timely morale booster for Ukrainian troops.
Russian mercenaries' revolt undermines Putin and could lead to further challenges to his rule
Read full article: Russian mercenaries' revolt undermines Putin and could lead to further challenges to his ruleFor the first time in his more than 20-year rule, President Vladimir Putin’s power appeared to hang in the balance this weekend.
Belarus deal to take in leader of Russian rebellion puts him in an even more repressive nation
Read full article: Belarus deal to take in leader of Russian rebellion puts him in an even more repressive nationRussian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was notorious for unbridled and profane challenges to authority even before the attempted rebellion that he mounted Saturday.
With Russia revolt over, mercenaries' future and direction of Ukraine war remain uncertain
Read full article: With Russia revolt over, mercenaries' future and direction of Ukraine war remain uncertainThe rebellious mercenary soldiers who briefly took over a Russian military headquarters on an ominous march toward Moscow are gone.
Live Updates | Armed rebellion by Russian mercenary chief
Read full article: Live Updates | Armed rebellion by Russian mercenary chiefThe rebellious Russian mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow says he was responding to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by rival forces from the Russian military.
Russian mercenary group revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilities
Read full article: Russian mercenary group revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilitiesThe greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power has fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow agreed to go into exile and sounded the retreat.
Prigozhin, the mercenary chief urging an uprising against Russia’s generals, has long ties to Putin
Read full article: Prigozhin, the mercenary chief urging an uprising against Russia’s generals, has long ties to PutinMercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has taken the spotlight in Russia by posing a direct challenge to Russia’s generals over the war in Ukraine.
Russian mercenary chief says his forces are rebelling, some left Ukraine and entered city in Russia
Read full article: Russian mercenary chief says his forces are rebelling, some left Ukraine and entered city in RussiaThe Russian owner of the private military contractor Wagner has made his most direct challenge to the Kremlin yet, calling for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister.
Amid infighting among Putin's lieutenants, head of mercenary force appears to take a step too far
Read full article: Amid infighting among Putin's lieutenants, head of mercenary force appears to take a step too farFor months, the head of the Wagner private military contractor bombarded Russia’s top military leaders with expletive-ridden insults in a rift that has weakened the country’s forces amid the war in Ukraine.
Both sides suffer heavy casualties as Ukraine strikes back against Russia, UK assessment says
Read full article: Both sides suffer heavy casualties as Ukraine strikes back against Russia, UK assessment saysBritish officials say Russia and Ukraine are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlin’s forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive.
Head of Russian private army Wagner says his forces are handing control of Bakhmut to Moscow
Read full article: Head of Russian private army Wagner says his forces are handing control of Bakhmut to MoscowThe head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner claims his forces have started pulling out of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and handing over control to the Russian military.
Head of Russian private army Wagner says more than 20,000 of his troops died in Bakhmut battle
Read full article: Head of Russian private army Wagner says more than 20,000 of his troops died in Bakhmut battleThe head of the Russian private army Wagner says his force lost more than 20,000 men in the drawn-out battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Peace, food and fertilizer: African leaders' challenge heading to talks with Moscow, Kyiv
Read full article: Peace, food and fertilizer: African leaders' challenge heading to talks with Moscow, KyivA delegation of six African leaders set to hold talks with Kyiv and Moscow aim to “initiate a peace process” but also broach the thorny issue of how a heavily-sanctioned Russia can be paid for the fertilizer exports Africa desperately needs, a key mediator in the talks said.
Zelenskyy says 'Bakhmut is only in our hearts' after Russia claims control of Ukrainian city
Read full article: Zelenskyy says 'Bakhmut is only in our hearts' after Russia claims control of Ukrainian cityUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that he believes that Russia has taken control of the eastern city of Bakhmut.
Ukraine says it has retaken territory near embattled eastern city of Bakhmut
Read full article: Ukraine says it has retaken territory near embattled eastern city of BakhmutUkrainian military commanders say their troops recaptured more territory from Russian forces at the scene of the war’s longest and bloodiest battle, for the eastern city of Bakhmut.
Who is the head of the Russian mercenary group bashing the military's role in Ukraine?
Read full article: Who is the head of the Russian mercenary group bashing the military's role in Ukraine?The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner returned to a familiar theme this week — bashing the country’s military leadership for failures in the war in Ukraine.
Wagner owner blasts 'treason' of Russian military chiefs
Read full article: Wagner owner blasts 'treason' of Russian military chiefsThe owner of the Russian private military company, Wagner, has accused Russia’s defense minister and chief of general staff of starving his fighters in Ukraine of ammunition.
US seeks to expel Russian mercenaries from Sudan, Libya
Read full article: US seeks to expel Russian mercenaries from Sudan, LibyaNorth African and Sudanese officials say the United States is increasing pressure on Middle East allies and power brokers in chaos-stricken Libya and Sudan to expel a Russian private military contractor.
Experts seek investigation of Wagner Group, Mali forces
Read full article: Experts seek investigation of Wagner Group, Mali forcesIndependent human rights experts working with the U.N. are calling for an investigation of possible abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by government forces in Mali and Russian military contractor the Wagner Group.
Brutality of Russia's Wagner gives it lead in Ukraine war
Read full article: Brutality of Russia's Wagner gives it lead in Ukraine warFierce battles in eastern Ukraine have thrown a new spotlight on a private Russian military group led by a rogue millionaire with longtime links to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Treasury to designate Wagner transnational criminal group
Read full article: Treasury to designate Wagner transnational criminal groupThe U.S. Treasury Department will impose additional sanctions on the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, that has been aiding Russia’s military in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Rifts in Russian military command seen amid Ukraine fighting
Read full article: Rifts in Russian military command seen amid Ukraine fightingAs Russian troops wage a ferocious fight for control of strongholds in eastern Ukraine, a parallel battle is unfolding in the top echelons of military power in Moscow.
White House: Russia's Wagner received arms from North Korea
Read full article: White House: Russia's Wagner received arms from North KoreaThe White House says a private Russian military company has taken delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster its forces as it fights side-by-side with Russian troops in Ukraine.
Russia's defense chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocation
Read full article: Russia's defense chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocationRussia’s defense chief has alleged that Ukraine was preparing a “provocation” involving a radioactive device, a stark claim that was strongly rejected by Ukrainian and British officials amid soaring tensions as Moscow struggles to stem Ukrainian advances.
Russian mercenaries are Putin's 'coercive tool' in Africa
Read full article: Russian mercenaries are Putin's 'coercive tool' in AfricaRussia has engaged in under-the-radar military operations in at least half a dozen countries in Africa in the last five years using a shadowy mercenary force analysts say is loyal to President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow demands that Belarus free 33 detained Russians
Read full article: Moscow demands that Belarus free 33 detained RussiansIn this photo taken from video released by Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Belarusian KGB officers detain Russian men in a sanitarium outside in Minsk, Belarus. (Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus via AP)MOSCOW The Kremlin demanded Friday that Belarus quickly release 33 Russian private security contractors it detained on terrorism charges, dismissing accusations of plots during the Belarus presidential campaign as bogus. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia expects Belarus to quickly free the detainees. He frequently accused the Kremlin of harboring plans to incorporate Belarus with Russia and vowed to resist them. Belarus election officials have blocked his two main challengers from being registered to run against him.
US sanctions companies linked to businessman close to Putin
Read full article: US sanctions companies linked to businessman close to PutinWASHINGTON The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on companies connected to a Russian businessman who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and suspected of helping finance the covert social media campaign aimed at American voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The actions announced Wednesday take aim at front companies that officials say Yevgeny Prigozhin has relied on to process millions of dollars and to evade sanctions in Sudan, where the Trump administration says Russia has been involved in paramilitary operations and supporting authoritarian regimes. Todays actions will further limit attempts by Prigozhin and his backers to foment disorder or undermine democratic reforms in Sudan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement announcing the sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Prigozhin, whose close relationship to Putin has earned him the nickname of Putin's Chef," attracted attention in 2018 after he and Russian companies he controlled were indicted in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. He was accused of financing an effort to use social media posts to spread disinformation and to divide American public opinion on hot-button social issues ahead of the election.