Putin swears the Wagnerites into the Russian state, two days after Prigozhin’s death

2023-08-26 11:00:01

NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Friday night requiring Wagner fighters to sign an oath pledging loyalty to the Russian state. Not only for them anyway, but for all other mercenary teams, but among them, Wagner’s involvement is clearly indicated by the requirement of an oath. This is also one of the series of steps Putin is taking to bring the mercenary groups under closer control of the state. The decree was described as something that could create a closer moral and spiritual bond between the troops and the Russian state.