SBU to initiate extradition of Wagner mercenaries detained in Belarus

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) will initiate the extradition of mercenaries from Russia's Wagner private military company who were detained in Belarus on July 29, the SBU's press center has told Ukrinform.

"The SBU will initiate the extradition of those detained in Belarus," the press center said.

Belarusian law enforcement agencies said earlier that they detained 32 militants of a foreign private military company near Minsk in the early hours of July 29.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called an urgent meeting of the country's security council to discuss the recent detention of Wagner mercenaries near Minsk.

The Wagner private military contractor is linked to businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as "Putin's chef." Wagner fighters took part in the war in Donbas and Syria.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the detection and detention of suspected Russian mercenaries near Minsk confirmed that they are used in various countries around the world and they pose a threat.

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