How, and with what implications, did the use of Wagner PMC become one of the chief tools at Russia’s disposal?

The War in Ukraine has seen the private military company Wagner PMC used as a useful tool that has brought an additional presence into the war; however, the recent history and popularity of private military companies are in no way limited to Russia or Eastern Europe. This article investigates how the private military company known as Wagner PMC obtained such a favored position in the application of the Russian Federation’s foreign policy goals, and ultimately seeks to understand both how Wagner PMC evolved in such a fashion that yielded their status (before their fall from grace and downfall with the Wagner Rebellion in 2023) as one of Russia’s chief tools for use in their military missions, and the wider implications of this timeline.