The U.S. Department of Defense said in 2020 that Wagner's support for Haftar appeared to have been paid for by the United Arab Emirates, which backed the warlord along with Russia and Egypt.

Soldiers from the Wagner Group have helped Vladimir Putin advance his aim of restoring Russian power in Africa. But on the ground, they’ve learned hard lessons.

A view of the site after a jet crashed in Russia's northwestern Tver region on Aug. 23. Russian authorities say Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was among those on the flight manifest.