S9 Ep48: Putin’s Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia’s Collapse into Mercenary Chaos with Candace Rondeaux

Candace Rondeaux joins Chris to unpack the dark mythology and
hard realities behind the Wagner Group, drawing from her
investigative book Putin’s Sledgehammer. They explore Wagner’s
roots in post-Soviet chaos, its fusion of state power and
criminal underworlds, and its critical role in Russia’s foreign
policy ambitions from Syria to Africa to Ukraine. Candace
explains how Wagner became a key tool for circumventing
sanctions, selling arms, spreading disinformation, and exporting
Russia’s influence under the guise of deniability. They discuss
the rise and fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s shadowy presence
in Zelensky’s early presidency, and how the group evolved into
today’s “Africa Corps.” Plus: assassination attempts, troll
farms, and how a sledgehammer murder became a viral propaganda
symbol.

Find more on Candace's research on Wagner here:
https://uncoveringwagner.org/

Find Putin's Sledgehammer here: 
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/candace-rondeaux/putins-sledgehammer/9781541703087/


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Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence,
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way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris
Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events
through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring
expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.