US designates Wagner group as an international criminal organization

Authorities in the United States have designated the Russian paramilitary group Wagner as an international criminal organization.

The White House made the announcement on Friday, denouncing the group’s activities in Ukraine.

“Wagner is a criminal organization that commits vast atrocities and human rights abuses,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, noting that the mercenary group had something “ 50,000″ people deployed in Ukraine.