What’s next for Yevgeny Prigozhin and his fighters, and why have they been warring with Russian military chiefs? Here are the key things to know.
An attempted rebellion in Russia amid the Ukraine war has sent shock waves across the world and has exposed internal struggles and the vulnerabilities of Moscow’s defence and security structures.
On Saturday, mercenary fighters led by Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin seized the city of Rostov-on-Don and marched, seemingly unopposed, towards Moscow, demanding the removal of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Prigozhin’s uprising came to an abrupt end hours after it began within 200km (124 miles) of Moscow, after he struck a deal with the Kremlin to end the operation, with a pact brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Since then, Prigozhin has released an audio statement saying the march to Russian capital was not meant to overthrow the government.
While his whereabouts and the fate of his troops remain unclear, one thing is certain: The Wagner revolt is the biggest threat Russian President Vladimir Putin has faced in his 22-year rule.
Here’s your simple guide:
Who is Prighozin and what do his Wagner fighters do?
Prigozhin grew up in St Petersburg, Putin’s hometown.
He rose to prominence as a catering entrepreneur in the Kremlin, earning him the nickname “Putin’s chef”.
From then on, his business boomed. In 2014, Prigozhin diversified into the military sector and became the head of the Wagner Group, a private mercenary force allegedly founded by Ukrainian-born Russian army officer Dmitry Utkin in 2013.
Wagner troops fight on behalf of Russia. They have led Moscow’s campaigns in Ukraine, and participated in conflicts in Syria, the Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan and Mozambique.
Until recently, Wagner was a shadowy group shrouded in secrecy. That all changed as the Ukraine war progressed, and Prigozhin is now more recognisable in Russia than ever before.
What’s Prigozhin’s beef with Russian military chiefs?
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, Prigozhin has been leading the Kremlin’s military operations, especially in eastern Ukraine.
In April, he announced the capture of Bakhmut, after a fierce months-long battle.
Putin congratulated the Wagner chief and his troops, but did not acknowledge Prigozhin’s ongoing beef with Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
Head of Russia’s Wagner group berates army chiefs
For months, Prigozhin’s scarred face, tightly shaven head and uneven tobacco-stained teeth became widely recognised, with the Wagner chief releasing videos on Telegram criticising Shoigu.
In his almost daily videos, foul-mouthed Prigozhin argued that Russia’s military leaders were incompetent and that they did not provide enough ammunition to his fighters. He also accused them of attacking his troops in Ukraine.
Russia’s Defence Ministry denied these claims as “informational provocation”.
Journalist Yulia Shapovalova, in Moscow, told media that a criminal case of an “armed rebellion” was initiated on June 23 against Prigozhin, after he accused the Russian army of shelling Wagner positions.
Where is Prigozhin now?
Lukashenko’s office said the settlement contains security guarantees for Wagner troops, but the details remain scant.
The Wagner chief is expected to live in exile in Belarus.
Wagner fighters who did not participate in the march on Moscow will also be offered military contracts, according to the Kremlin.
“Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be dropped and Prigozhin would go to Belarus – and his Wagner mercenaries who participated in the rebellion would not be prosecuted,” journalist Shapovalova said.
But on Monday, several Russian media outlets reported that Prigozhin remains under investigation by the Federal Security Service (FSB), though his exact whereabouts remain unclear.
