In the upcoming film “Granit,” funded by Kremlin-linked entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin, audiences will witness the portrayal of Russian “military instructors” summoned to Mozambique to combat insurgents with ties to the Islamic State in the northern region of Cabo Delgado. Set to premiere on the government-friendly NTV channel, the movie is produced by Aurum, a company where Prigozhin holds a significant stake, as per Russia’s public registry.
Directed by Denis Neymand, “Granit” is dedicated to “our Russian guys” and faithfully recreates real-life events involving Russian mercenaries who fought in Mozambique in 2019. Neymand confirmed that Aurum commissioned the production, shedding light on the involvement of private military company Wagner in the depicted events.
While hundreds of Russian soldiers from Wagner were reportedly deployed in Mozambique, the film deliberately avoids naming the specific private military company, emphasizing its focus on showcasing how Russian individuals assisted Africans against external threats. Filmed in the Central African Republic, where Russia maintains a military presence, Neymand clarified that the identity of the mercenaries was known during production.
The movie’s narrative adds to a series of films produced by Prigozhin-associated entities like Aurum and Paritet Film studio, offering insights into Russian “instructors” engaging in conflicts in eastern Ukraine and the Central African Republic. These films, sharing a common acting crew, contribute to the scrutiny of Prigozhin’s connections with Wagner. Despite denials by the Kremlin in 2019 regarding Russian soldiers in Mozambique and Prigozhin’s disassociation with Wagner, recent movies suggest otherwise.
The European Union imposed sanctions on Wagner earlier this month for its alleged destabilizing activities in Ukraine and parts of Africa. Notably, Prigozhin, who has faced media scrutiny over his links to Wagner, was unavailable for immediate comment.
Aurum, previously responsible for “The Tourist,” a film centered on Russian military advisors in the Central African Republic, has distribution rights for “Shugalei.” Directed by Neymand, “Shugalei” claims to depict the true story of Maxim Shugalei, a Russian political operative associated with Prigozhin, who faced accusations of meddling in Libya’s internal affairs and spent time in a Libyan prison, according to independent UN observers.