The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on Russian private military contractor Wagner Group as well as on eight individuals and three other energy companies in Syria accused of helping to finance the mercenaries in Ukraine, Libya and Syria, writes France24.

The EU accused the Wagner Group, whose members are mostly ex-service personnel, of human rights abuses and said they carried out clandestine operations on the Kremlin’s behalf.

“The Wagner Group is responsible for serious human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan and Mozambique”, - the EU said in its official journal, listing torture and extrajudicial executions.

Wagner personnel have been identified carrying out operations in several conflict zones, including Russia’s neighbour Ukraine, war-torn Syria and several restive African countries.