The private military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as Wagner, has reportedly included 67 fighters from Norway. This assertion came in response to inquiries from the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten. According to Prigozhin, the figure stands at sixty-seven individuals from Norway in the ranks of the organization as of the latest tally.
He noted that two of these Norwegians hold dual citizenship, one of whom is also a United States citizen. He also stated that more than half of the Norwegian contingent has prior service in NATO-aligned armed forces, adding a respectful acknowledgment of Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO.
Prigozhin claimed that after the end of the current conflict in Ukraine, about 52 of the Norwegians would be prepared to return home with the aim of organizing political changes within Norway. He suggested that they believe Norway has a historical identity aligned with Viking heritage and cultural sentiments at odds with certain contemporary social norms, framing the potential return as a movement grounded in national tradition.
In addition to the Norwegian assertion, Prigozhin mentioned that Wagner also has around 20 Finnish citizens among its ranks. He described these Finnish personnel as operating within a British battalion under the command of a United States citizen who previously held a rank in the Marine Corps, emphasizing cross-national collaboration within the organization.
At the same time, a Russian military operation is underway in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin announced this action, stating the operation’s aims include demilitarizing Ukraine and ensuring its authorities are aligned with Moscow. The move has had broad international repercussions and has been cited as a justification by the United States and allied nations for imposing additional sanctions on Russia.