Who are the Wagner group

The Wagner Group (Russian: Группа Вагнера, tr. Gruppa Vagnera), also known as PMC Wagner[3] (Russian: ЧВК[a] «Вагнер», tr. ChVK «Vagner»[49]; lit. 'Wagner Private Military Company'), is a Russian paramilitary organization.[3] It is variously described as a private military company (PMC), a network of mercenaries, or a de facto private army of Russian President Vladimir Putin.[3][50] The group operates beyond the law in Russia, where private military contractors are officially forbidden

They are a private military organization that is endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and is being used in the ongoing war against Ukraine.