Russia’s economy is being propped up by Wagner Group’s gold-smuggling operations, UK government report says

• Russia’s economy is being sustained by the Wagner Group’s gold smuggling operations, the UK government says.
• A report says the mercenary group has been sneaking “significant” amounts of gold out of Sudan.
• Smuggled gold is being used to prop up the Kremlin’s finances, the report claims.

Russia’s economy is being propped up by the Wagner Group’s gold smuggling operations, according to a new UK government report. 

The report, authored by the UK’s foreign affairs committee, accuses the mercenary group of sneaking “significant” amounts of gold out of Sudan. That gold is then used in trade that’s boosting Russia’s economy, it added, despite the nation being targeted by western sanctions amid Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.