The Wagner Group, a private military company in Russia, has captured a Russian lieutenant colonel in Ukraine and forced him to confess on video to firing on Wagner mercenaries. The incident highlights the lack of control Russia’s defense ministry has over the Wagner Group, which operates independently and has its own agenda. The owner of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has a personal conflict with Russia’s 72nd Brigade and is using the incident to undermine the Russian military and portray them as weak. 

Key points: 

1. The Wagner Group, despite relying on the Russian defense ministry for ammunition, operates independently and has the freedom to choose its operations and reinforce different areas. 
2. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group, has a personal conflict with the 72nd Brigade and is using the incident to further his own political goals. 
3. The capture of a Russian military officer by the Wagner Group raises questions about crossing a red line and the escalating conflict between Prigozhin and the Russian military. 
4. The rivalry between Prigozhin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been ongoing, with accusations of land mines and fire exchanged between their respective forces. 
5. The Wagner Group serves as a counterweight to the Russian military’s political influence and operates more effectively due to its independence from the army’s limitations. 

Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-wagner-capture-russian-commander/