Russia crisis explained: who is Yevgeny Prigozhin and why is his Wagner Group rebelling against Putin?

Tensions between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia’s Wagner private militia group, and the country’s defense establishment reached a peak on Friday, sparking a crisis. Prigozhin vowed to retaliate against Russian military leaders, accusing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of orchestrating the missile attack, which resulted in significant casualties among his fighters. In response, the Kremlin immediately denied the attack and labeled Prigozhin’s actions as rebellion.

Challenge to Putin’s power

This internal conflict represents a serious challenge to the authority of President Vladimir Putin, comparable in magnitude to the troop deployment in Ukraine 16 months ago. In a televised address to the nation, Putin condemned the rebellion by the Wagner forces and their leader, calling it an act of “treason” and promised dire consequences.

The Wagner Group and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

To understand the seriousness of the situation, it is important to examine in depth the Wagner Group, its role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the allegations of subversion leveled against its leader.

Founded in 2014 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group at one time had around 50,000 mercenaries, many of whom were former prisoners, actively participating in the Ukrainian conflict. Earlier this year, the United States classified the group as a transnational criminal organization, leading to sanctions by Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the European Union. Wagner has been active in various battlefields in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America and continues to face allegations of widespread human rights abuses.

Prigozhin: ‘Putin’s chef’

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a 62-year-old Russian businessman and former convict, earned the nickname “Putin’s chef” because of his catering companies’ contracts with the Kremlin and his longstanding relationship with President Putin. US authorities have linked him to control of a troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency, which is notorious for interfering in the 2016 US presidential election. In 2022, Prigozhin finally admitted his connection to the Wagner Group after years of denying any involvement.

Strained Relations: Prigozhin’s Complaints

While Prigozhin was long considered one of Putin’s trusted confidantes, his relationship with the Russian president’s military leadership has deteriorated significantly, especially in the wake of rising casualties among Wagner recruits. Prigozhin publicly accused the Ministry of Defense of failing to provide adequate support to his military, and frequently posted provocative videos on social media. In May, he also threatened to withdraw his troops from the operation if he did not receive essential supplies, including ammunition, although he later backtracked.

important role of wagner

The Wagner Group’s involvement in Putin’s attack can be attributed to the assistance it provided. Despite a substantial increase in weapons production, Putin admitted this month that the Russian army fighting in Ukraine still lacked enough advanced weapons. With heavy losses and poorly trained and equipped personnel, the Russians relied heavily on Wagner’s forces for their ground offensive. In May, after more than 220 days of fighting, the group captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Prigozhin’s retaliatory action

As the crisis escalated, Prigozhin accused the Russian Ministry of Defense of launching a missile attack on the Wagner personnel camp. In a subsequent audio message, he claimed that 25,000 of his men were ready to join forces if they encountered resistance, with the goal of “putting an end to this mess”. Reports have emerged that Prigozhin and his fighters have reached Rostov-on-Don, a strategically important military command base near the Russian-Ukrainian border. However, these reports are unverified.

Wagner Fighters in Rostov-on-Don

The situation is developing rapidly, with unverified reports indicating the presence of Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don, a city located near the Russian-Ukrainian border and known for its strategic military command base. As tensions rise and conflict unfolds, the fate of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group and their strained relationship with the Kremlin hang in the balance.