Russian Wagner Mercenary Arrested in US for Attempted Illegal Border Crossing

US Border Patrol has detained Timur Praliev, a former mercenary of the Wagner Group, after he attempted to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas illegally. The arrest took place on January 4, 2025, and was reported by Newsweek on January 10.

Praliev, who claimed Kazakh citizenship, was found carrying two passports—one Kazakh and one Russian—as well as $4,000 US dollars, 60,000 Mexican pesos, and a drone. According to US officials, he admitted during questioning to being a member of the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization that the US Treasury Department has classified as a criminal organization.

Court documents confirmed Praliev’s detention, and he has since pleaded guilty to the federal misdemeanor of unlawful entry. Federal prosecutor Amanda McColgan, citing the defendant’s connection to the Wagner Group, requested a 15-day sentence.

However, US Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker ruled that Praliev would remain in federal custody following his sentence due to concerns over his potential threat to community safety.

Praliev’s precise role within the Wagner Group and his reasons for entering the United States remain unclear. The Wagner Group has been linked to Russian military operations in Ukraine and Africa, as well as serious human rights violations, including executions, rape, and other atrocities.

The Wagner Group has been heavily involved in military operations in Ukraine, where its members have been accused of committing serious war crimes. These include involvement in indiscriminate shelling, the execution of prisoners of war, and other brutal acts against civilians.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia is intensifying its espionage activities in Mexico, using the country as a base for operations targeting the US Russian intelligence agencies have increased their presence at the embassy in Mexico City, signaling a shift in strategy after European expulsions. US officials are concerned about both intelligence gathering and propaganda efforts aimed at undermining support for Ukraine.