Why UK's move to label "Wagner" as terrorist organization matters

The UK government is expected to label the Russian Wagner private military company as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, making assistance to the group a criminal offense.

As reported by the BBC, the move would also classify Wagner's assets as "terrorist property", subject to being seized by the government to be used as a form of compensation to Ukrainians through UK courts.

Although this measure is considered by many to be long overdue, seeing as the paramilitary organization has been largely dismantled by the Kremlin with its leader recently killed in a mysterious airplane crash, the publication believes the group to be posing a significant threat. It still operates in several countries, with Poland and the Baltic states worried that it may attempt to foment trouble on the border with Belarus, while there is a strong Wagner presence in West Africa in former French colonies, which are currently actively ridding themselves from France's influence.

According to the BBC, analysts believe the Russian military intelligence arm, the GRU, will be taking over much of the direction of Wagner, "moving away from direct combat and more into cyber warfare and deniable, 'grey zone' operations".