Candace Rondeux:
They are very important to Putin because they want to divert attention from Russian activities in places where they are not supposed to operate.
They fulfill the role of circumventing sanctions. And they turn to the Wagner Group as the kind of enforcer and kind of mercenary. And in return they get gold, diamonds, oil, gas, things that can be exported and converted into hard dollars, hard cash, which is extremely important for Russia.