Title: Wagner Boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin Announces Russian Mercenary Group’s Plans Amidst Ukraine Conflict
Subtitle: Wagner’s presence in Belarus and Africa raises concerns about a potential return to the war in Ukraine
RIGA, Latvia — Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, recently made his first public appearance since leading a short-lived rebellion in late June. In a video posted on the ‘Wagner Unloading’ Telegram channel and verified by The Washington Post, Prigozhin stated that for now, the Wagner group will not participate in the fighting in Ukraine. He criticized Russia’s handling of the Ukraine invasion, labeling it a “disgrace.”
The video, which was recorded at dusk, showcased a man resembling Prigozhin addressing a crowd of several hundred men dressed in military fatigues. He pledged to continue operating the Wagner Group in Africa and transform Belarus, their new host country, into “the second army in the world.”
Prigozhin’s rebellion began when his irregular troops seized military installations in southern Russia and marched towards Moscow on June 24. The conflict abruptly ended after Russian President Vladimir Putin intervened and convinced Prigozhin to halt his advance. In an unexpected turn of events, Putin allowed Prigozhin and the Wagner troops to move to Belarus, despite previously denouncing him as a traitor.
Recent developments indicate that the deal between Prigozhin and the Kremlin remains in effect, as Prigozhin made a public appearance in Belarus. Independent monitoring project Hajun reported that Prigozhin-linked convoys have been moving toward a tent camp near the Belarusian village of Tsel. Satellite imagery also confirmed the arrival of these convoys over the weekend.
Experts estimate that there are currently over 2,000 Wagner fighters and more than 500 pieces of equipment in Belarus. The absence of heavy fighting equipment in the convoys suggests that part of the group’s arsenal was returned to the Russian Defense Ministry to comply with the agreement.
Prigozhin expressed his intention to strengthen his presence in Africa, with reports suggesting that he sold some of his African assets to pay the salaries of his fighters. Alexander Ivanov, the head of the Commonwealth of Officers for International Security, a group managing Russian military instructors in the Central African Republic (CAR), confirmed the sale and highlighted plans to expand Wagner’s presence in Africa.
The rebellion led by Prigozhin has raised questions about Wagner’s African operations and its funding. President Putin recently revealed that Wagner is fully sponsored by the Russian state, contradicting years of official denial of its involvement in mercenaries. It remains uncertain whether Prigozhin will continue to receive funding through state contracts.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s main training camp in Russia’s Krasnodar region is set to be shut down on July 30. This development aligns with reports from Wagner Unloading, which shared a video showing masked men taking down the Russian and Wagner flags. However, in Prigozhin’s recent public appearance, the flags reappeared, indicating a potential shift in plans.
Dmitry Utkin, the reputed founder and operational leader of Wagner, also made a brief appearance in the video. He stated that this is only the beginning of a monumental endeavor, and with a chilling message in English, declared, “Welcome to hell!”
The situation surrounding Wagner’s activities in Belarus, Africa, and its potential return to Ukraine continues to raise concerns, both locally and internationally. As the world closely observes these developments, the fate of the conflict in Eastern Europe remains uncertain.
[Additional article links and information about the Russia-Ukraine conflict can be found in the original article.]