Russian-funded Wagner PMC accused of cannibalism (and other crimes in Africa): ICC to handle case - Associated Press

"The video shows men in military uniform dismembering bodies—presumably of civilians—with machetes, ripping out organs and posing with severed limbs. One fighter says he intends to eat someone’s liver. Another says he is going to try to tear out a heart."
A confidential report on possible war crimes committed by the Russian PMC "Wagner" in Africa has been submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC). "Wagner fighters" circulated images of blatant atrocities in West Africa on social media, including those involving cannibalism.
The court is being asked to investigate the activities of individuals associated with "Wagner," as well as the governments of several African countries and Russia—whose consent allowed the mercenaries to operate in the region—in connection with "possible extrajudicial killings, torture, maiming, and cannibalism." The ICC has also been asked to look into crimes "committed via the Internet that are inextricably linked to physical crimes."
This was reported by Associated Press, whose journalists reviewed a summary of the report. It notes that the crimes in question were committed from December 2021 to July 2024.

Funding of PMC "Wagner" from the Russian State Budget

On June 27, 2023, Russian President Putin publicly confirmed that PMC "Wagner" received funds directly from the federal budget. In his official address, he stated that from May 2022 to May 2023 the Russian treasury allocated 86,262 million rubles to the maintenance and incentive payments for Wagner "fighters." Of this amount, 70,384 million rubles were regular monetary payments, 15,877 million rubles were bonuses, and 110,179 million rubles were insurance contributions.
Accusations of Cannibalism and Other War Crimes
The ICC has separately begun examining materials prepared by experts from the University of California, Berkeley.
These materials, covering the period from December 2021 to July 2024, document incidents of dismemberment and cannibalism carried out by Wagner fighters in Mali and Burkina Faso. The report contains over thirty video recordings and hundreds of photographs from closed Telegram channels.
The footage shows mercenaries using machetes to "slice up the bodies of civilians, displaying severed limbs and internal organs," and making statements such as "I will eat his liver" and "I will keep the heart as a trophy."
Legal Classification of the Crimes
Under the terms of the Rome Statute, the acts of dismemberment and cannibalism fall under the categories of "other inhumane acts" (Article 7) and "outrages upon personal dignity" (Part 1 of Article 8). In addition to physical brutality, the public dissemination of such materials on social media is considered a separate war crime by the ICC.
ICC Investigation Methodology
- Verification of video and photo metadata, linking footage to specific geographical coordinates and timestamps.
- Forensic medical examination of remains and comparison with dismemberment footage.
- Interviews with witnesses among local residents, UN staff, and humanitarian organizations under anonymity and protection guarantees.
- Correlation of the timeline of Russian budget disbursements with peaks in documented atrocities in Mali and Burkina Faso.
Challenges and Prospects of the Inquiry
The investigation is hindered by the secrecy of financial flows: official reports from the Russian General Staff and Ministry of Defense are not publicly accessible. Additionally, cooperation with the authorities in Mali and Burkina Faso is complicated by bureaucratic and political obstacles. Nevertheless, ICC experts have deemed the digital evidence sufficient to continue the inquiry. After completing the review, the Prosecutor may decide to open a formal criminal investigation (Investigation), enabling the summoning of witnesses and suspects.
Conclusion — Whose Money, Whose Crimes
The funding of PMC "Wagner" from the Russian state budget and the documented incidents of possible cannibalism occurred during the same periods.
Funds from the Russian treasury were used to support operations during which fighters committed dismemberment and, according to Associated Press, possibly engaged in acts of cannibalism.
Thus, responsibility for these crimes lies not only with individual perpetrators but also with those who provided the financial resources. The Russian state effectively sponsored these egregious acts, underscoring the institutional nature of these crimes.
NAnews – Israel News will continue to closely monitor the ICC investigation and provide readers with timely and accurate updates on its progress.
P.S. Relationship of Russian Authorities to PMC “Wagner”
PMC “Wagner” annually received over 86 billion ₽ from the federal budget, covering base salaries, bonus payments, and insurance contributions.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov referred to the mercenaries as “heroes of complex operations,” while Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu noted that their actions “complement the capabilities of the regular army.” Several draft laws to officially recognize private military companies were discussed in the State Duma over the years, but none were adopted.
Families of fallen Wagner fighters are entitled to one‑time payments of up to 3 million ₽, preferential mortgage loans, and free sanatorium stays — social benefits comparable to those received by contract soldiers.
Spontaneous memorials and photo displays honoring “Wagnerites” have appeared across Russia.
In Moscow, on Varvarka Street, a memorial to PMC “Wagner” was erected. In November 2024, the Tverskoy Court recognized that the memorial holds “historical, cultural, and socio‑public significance” and “aligns with traditional spiritual and moral values.” https://nikk.agency/en/russian-funded-wagner/