is expanding its mining projects in the Central African Republic (CAR) to finance the war against Ukraine, among other goals.Source: Politico, citing a Western official and a diplomatic cable receivedDetails: Over the past year, the Wagner Group has significantly expanded its operations in the Central African Republic, where mining profits could grow to nearly US$1 billion, the news outlet’s sources said.In addition, the cable says that the CAR is currently refusing to allow UN peacekeepers in the country to fly drones over the mine.Quote: "The US has assessed that the group is helping to construct the site for long-term exploitation and has fortified the mine, constructing bridges at river crossings and with truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns at key locations.Earlier: In June 2022, The New York Times reported that the Wagner Group, led by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, was mining gold in Sudanese mines to illegally replenish Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves and soften the effect of Western economic sanctions on the Russian economy."