Putin orders former Wagner figure to command volunteer units in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Russian deputy defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Andrei Troshev in Moscow (Sputnik/Kremlin via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered one of the top commanders of the Wagner military contractor to take charge of “volunteer units” fighting in Ukraine.

The move signals the Kremlin’s intention to keep using the mercenaries after the death of their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.