Russia

Elaine Byrne: Powerful private armies are pushing Putin to an ever more brutal stance

The Russian president has little control over Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, who criticise inept military leadership without censure and promote extreme measures in Ukraine

Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen warlord: sent thousands from his highly trained private army into Ukraine