Title: Russia’s Defense Ministry Confirms Transfer of Weapons from Wagner Group to Russian Army Following Rebellion
Subtitle: Moscow Takes Steps to Weaken Mercenaries’ Influence
Date: [Current Date]
by [Author’s Name]
In a recent development that highlights Russia’s ongoing efforts to neutralize the influence of the Wagner Group, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that thousands of tons of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment have been handed over by the private military contracting firm to the Russian army. This move comes in the aftermath of the mercenaries’ dramatic but short-lived rebellion last month.
The Defense Ministry released a video showcasing its staff inspecting over 2,000 pieces of equipment and 2,750 tons of ammunition. Among the items were tanks, Pantsir and other missile systems, as well as approximately 20,000 small arms, according to the ministry’s statement.
However, the authenticity of the video and the claim that the weapons belonged to the Wagner Group have not been independently verified by The Washington Post.
This transfer of weaponry indicates that the Wagner Group is fulfilling its part of an agreement brokered between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wagner boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin to end the mutiny. The deal, facilitated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, included Prigozhin’s abandonment of the “March for Justice” in Moscow and the surrender of Wagner’s stockpiles in exchange for safe passage to exile in Belarus.
During the rebellion, Wagner forces were spotted with antiaircraft weapons and managed to shoot down six Russian helicopters and a transport plane. The Defense Ministry’s statement affirmed, “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the plan, are completing the acceptance of weapons and military equipment from units of the Wagner Group.” It further mentioned that several units of equipment had never been used in combat before.
The ministry’s claim regarding the presence of unused equipment seemed like an attempt to undermine Prigozhin’s complaints that the ministry had denied Wagner’s forces essential ammunition during their offensives in eastern Ukraine.
Alexander Sladkov, a Russian war correspondent, questioned Prigozhin’s statement on Telegram, asking, “What are the words of Yevgeniy Prigozhin worth saying that they did not give ammunition?”
To counter such allegations, Prigozhin supporters argued that the claimed stockpile of ammunition would be rapidly depleted on the battlefield, lasting only a few days of intense fighting.
Nevertheless, the future of the Wagner Group remains uncertain. Putin’s recent meeting with Prigozhin, five days after the rebellion, suggests that certain details of the agreement are still being worked out.
Belarusian leader Lukashenko announced last week that Prigozhin had returned to Russia. According to a businessman in St. Petersburg, Prigozhin’s hometown, the Wagner boss visited to reclaim money and weapons confiscated by the Russian government.
Putin proposed three options for Wagner fighters: signing contracts with the Defense Ministry, relocating to Belarus, or returning home. Satellite imagery has revealed the construction of a camp in Belarus, but neither Wagner nor Lukashenko have confirmed whether it will serve as a new base for the mercenaries. Thousands of Wagner fighters are believed to still be stationed in Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine.
It is important to note that engaging in mercenary services is illegal in Russia. However, Wagner’s involvement in the war started a few months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The group has been instrumental in achieving some of the rare battlefield successes for Russia in recent months.
Contributors to this report: Robyn Dixon and Mary Ilyushina.
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