Title: Putin Reveals Failed Attempt to Revoke Wagner Mercenary Chief’s Leadership
Subtitle: Analysts speculate on Putin’s weakness and efforts to retain control over the Wagner group
Date: [Insert Date]
In an unexpected revelation during an interview with Kommersant newspaper, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted to seeking the removal of Yevgeny Prigozhin as the leader of Wagner’s fighters in Ukraine. The admission highlights Putin’s ongoing negotiation efforts to maintain a grip on the Wagner mercenary group.
The meeting between Putin and Prigozhin took place at the Kremlin earlier this month. Putin proposed allowing the Wagner fighters to continue serving in Ukraine under their battlefield commander, Andrey Trochev. However, Prigozhin rebuffed the proposal, stating that the fighters would not agree with the decision.
Analysts believe that the short-lived Wagner rebellion last month exposed Putin’s perceived weakness and inability to manage conflicts among various power players within his regime. The failed negotiations may have further highlighted Putin’s struggle to maintain control over the mercenary group’s activities.
The situation escalated on Friday when Belarusian state media broadcasted footage allegedly showing Wagner instructors arriving in Belarus as part of an exile deal reached with the Kremlin following the failed rebellion. The deal aims to ensure loyalty from Wagner’s rank and file, while simultaneously discrediting Prigozhin by leaking sensitive information about him.
During the same interview, Putin questioned the existence of Wagner, citing Russian legislation that outlaws private military companies. This raised doubts about the future of Wagner and signaled Putin’s intention to potentially disband the group at any moment.
Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at Rand, suggested that Putin’s admission could indicate his desire to separate Prigozhin from the Wagner fighters while still utilizing their services. Massicot views the situation as messy and not necessarily indicative of Putin’s strength as he intends it to be.
Abbas Gallyamov, a political consultant and former speechwriter to Putin, noted that the meeting between Putin and Prigozhin demonstrated an effort to normalize their relationship. Despite this, the lack of common ground and ongoing media campaign against Prigozhin suggest unresolved issues between the two sides.
The Kremlin-controlled television channels have continued to broadcast reports highlighting Prigozhin’s alleged ineffectiveness, corruption, and detailing his business interests. Embarrassing leaked photographs of Prigozhin, including him wearing disguises, have also circulated on pro-war Telegram channels.
Meanwhile, in Belarus, the first purported sightings of Wagner fighters since the rebellion emerged. Belarusian state television claimed that Wagner fighters had arrived in a military camp in the village of Asipovichi, training local defense forces. The presence of Wagner fighters in Belarus adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Despite claims that Wagner’s involvement in Ukraine has diminished, the Pentagon press secretary, Pat Ryder, stated that the majority of Wagner’s fighters remained in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Control over Prigozhin’s Concord Group, which holds contracts to supply Russian military bases abroad, remains a valuable prize for the Kremlin if wrested from his control.
Analysts believe that finding a resolution favorable to both Putin and Prigozhin would be ideal, as both sides need each other. Putin is focused on the war in Ukraine, while Prigozhin understands the fragility of his position without the president’s support.
As the negotiations continue and the power struggle unfolds, the fate of Wagner and its leadership remains uncertain, leaving many to question the stability of Putin’s control over his regime’s various power players.
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