Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview released late Thursday that mercenary fighters with the Wagner group were offered the possibility to continue serving together in Russia following their insurrection.
Putin told the Russian daily Kommersant that this was one of several proposals he made to approximately three dozen warriors and their founder Yevgeny Prigozhin late last month, only five days after Wagner staged the failed insurrection against Russia’s military hierarchy.
The fighters would remain under the command of their existing commander, who the newspaper merely named Grey Hair.
Putin also stated that it was the responsibility of Russia’s government and parliament to develop a legal framework for private military units.
According to Kommersant, Putin met with 35 Wagner fighters and Prigozhin in the Kremlin and offered them future alternatives, including remaining under their leader for 16 months.
“All of them could have gathered in one place and continued their service”, stated the president.
“And nothing would have been different. They would have been led by the same individual who had served as their true leader all along”, he added.
Putin, as commander-in-chief of the Russian army, seemed to infer that they would continue in the Russian military, though he did not state so officially.
“Many of them nodded when I said this”, Putin continued.
According to the report, Prigozhin disagreed.
After listening, Prigozhin said, “No, the boys won’t agree with such a decision”.
Wagner soldiers were important in the Russian army’s march into eastern Ukraine, and they were the driving force behind the city of Bakhmut’s capture in May after months of fighting.
However, Prigozhin frequently accused the military of failing to support his forces, and Wagner fighters dissatisfied with the Defence Ministry’s handling of the battle gained control of Rostov-on-Don on June 23 and began pushing towards Moscow.
They halted their approach the next day after being given a contract to settle in Belarus with Prigozhin. Any intention of charging Prigozhin was abandoned.
Putin told the publication that Wagner would not be able to continue in its existing form.
“Wagner does not exist”, Putin said in an interview with Kommersant.
“There is no legislation governing private military organizations. It simply does not exist”, he added.
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