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

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

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, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a 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.