In pictures | Top secret paramilitary group Wagner opens its first official headquarters in Russia

Russian paramilitary group Wagner opened its first headquarters in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday, an AFP reporter noted.

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Yevgeny Prigogine, who recently confirmed that he has established a high-level secret team to work in countries in Latin America, Africa and Ukraine, announced in a press release posted on his company Concorde’s website that he would open the office on National Unity Day.

The glass-fronted, multistory building with a large white sign marked “Wagner” opened Friday.

Men in camouflage uniforms wandered the building’s gray hallways, looking at an exhibit featuring drones.

“The purpose of the PMC Wagner Center is to provide a comfortable environment for developing new ideas to improve Russia’s defense capability,” Prigozhin said in his statement.

Last month, Yevgeny Prigozhin put an end to years of rumors by admitting he founded the group. For years, the Wagner group has been suspected of playing a role in promoting Moscow’s ambitions abroad, something the Kremlin has denied any connection.

The group and its leader have played an increasingly important role in the attack on Ukraine launched by Russia last February.