Hertfordshire man admits Wagner Group claims

A man from Hertfordshire has admitted to claiming to be a member of the proscribed military organisation Wagner Group.

Piotr Kucharski, 49, of The Glebe, Watford, was on Friday (16 August), convicted of professing to be a member of the group, after amending a previous not guilty plea following an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

Detectives found that, in October 2023, Kucharski had attended a combat and re-enactment event in Stonham Aspal, Suffolk, despite previously being banned from the group. While there, he threatened participants, telling people he was a member of Wagner Group and that he had previously fought in Ukraine.

Following a disagreement with another attendee, Kucharski then made a cutthroat symbol and, while walking away from others, began slashing the air with a knife. After officers from Suffolk Police were called, he was initially arrested for a public order offence and possession of a bladed article, although he was subsequently re-arrested under terrorism legislation after officers found Wagner Group badges sown to his camouflage jacket.

The investigation was then passed to ERSOU’s Counter Terrorism Policing unit, and Kucharski was later charged with professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation, namely The Wagner Group, contrary to section 11 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2000.

At a Central Criminal Court hearing, Kucharski pleaded guilty to the offence. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 1 November.

Head of ERSOU, Hannah Wilkinson said:

“Kucharski was clearly intent on causing alarm and distress by feigning membership of Wagner Group, and he was promptly arrested after concerned members of the public raised the alarm about his behaviour.

There’s no indication that Kucharski fought in Ukraine or was actually a member of Wagner Group, however pertaining to have done so is also a severe offence, particularly given he was very overt with his support for the banned group. Our teams work diligently to keep our region safe from the threat of terrorism, and we will continue to ensure those looking to cause harm and disruption in our communities are brought to justice.”