Putin says Russian mercenary group has no legal basis so 'doesn't exist' July 13, 2023 at 11:45PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Wagner private military company 'simply doesn't exist' as a legal entity, in comments adding to the series of often bizarre twists that have followed the group's abortive revolt last month — the most serious threat to Putin's 23-year rule amid the war in Ukraine. "There is no law on private military organisations. It simply doesn't exist," Putin said.