Prigozhin-Kremlin Conflict: In Russia, the world’s largest country, the private army Wagner has rebelled against President Vladimir Putin. Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Wagner Group, left for the Russian capital Moscow on Saturday, June 24, with 25,000 of his fighters. Prigozhin announced that he would go to Moscow and that his revolution would give the country a new president. Prigozhin’s attempt amounted to a coup d’état in Russia, causing a stir in the corridors of power. However, Prigozhin now stopped his troops from advancing towards Moscow. And he himself has left Russia for Belarus. The whole world is watching the rapidly changing events in Russia.
According to the Moscow Times, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, was once one of Putin’s most trusted confidants, but what he did yesterday put Russia at risk of civil war and coup. . It has been reported that Prigozhin and President Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu were at loggerheads over the occupation of territories won in the Ukraine war. Prigozhin wants to take over most of the conquered territories in Ukraine. He was enraged at Putin’s refusal and staged a coup. However, Yevgeny Prigozhin alone is not responsible for such alarming situation in Russia, there are some other faces, which have created this crisis against Putin.
- Yevgeny Prigozhin
< p>Yevgeny Prigozhin heads the Wagner Group, a pro-Putin private military group formed a decade ago to help Russia in eastern Ukraine known as Russia’s Private Army. Yevgeny Prigozhin heads the Wagner Group, an independent paramilitary force. who was earlier considered one of the closest confidants of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Wagner Group has played a key role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly in and around Bakhmut, not to mention conflicts in Syria and the African continent in recent years. But the close relationship between Prigozhin and the Kremlin leadership has suffered in recent months. Wagner’s chief had long been in favor of installing a new Russian military leadership, which he had repeatedly criticized for the defeat in Ukraine. accused of lying to the Russian people about On the other hand, on Saturday, June 24, Putin to Wagner’s troops in his televised address to the nation "a traitor" Counted and, said – he will be punished for rebelling against the Kremlin." However, proceedings against Prigozhin were halted by Russia’s intelligence agency FSB after the deal was struck late on Saturday. However, this was conditional on Prigozhin leaving Russia and moving to Belarus. According to the terms of the deal, Wagner’s troops also did not have to face the Russian government’s action move to Belarus. Under the terms of the deal, Wagner’s troops also would not face prosecution from the Russian government.
- Sergei Shoigu
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Minister of Defense since 2012, has been one of the main perpetrators of the military offensive against Ukraine since 2014 and has faced multiple charges since the start of the war on February 24, 2022. . He is one of Putin’s most special people. He could count the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russian involvement in Syria as successes but his reputation has declined since the war against Ukraine began. Putin hoped that the attack on Ukraine would be very different, but he has not yet captured the Ukrainian capital. The responsibility rests with Sergei Shoigu.
Shoigu’s relationship with Prigozhin is very strained these days. Wagner’s chief has repeatedly accused the Ministry of Defense of failing to deliver ammunition. Prigozhin has also said that Shoigu is trying to achieve personal goals and awards, such as the title of hero, by deceiving Putin about the situation in Ukraine. The accusations came to light recently when Prigozhin said Shoigu had lied to the Russian people about the real reason for the invasion.
- Valery Gerasimov
Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, took over command of troops in Ukraine in January 2023, succeeding Sergei Surovykin. He is also believed to be responsible for Russia’s military operations in Syria. He has been considered a Shoigu confidant since taking over in 2012 after Shoigu was made defense minister.
Wagner’s chief Prigozhin is angry at both Shoigu and Gerasimov, whom he accuses of incompetence and heavy losses during the invasion of Ukraine. considered primarily responsible for On Saturday, Prigozhin also announced a march on Moscow after claiming to have seized military facilities in the southern Russian city of Voronezh.
- Sergei Surovykin
Until now, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Sergei Surovykin was considered an ally of Prigozhin. The general commanded Russian forces in Ukraine from October 2022 to January 2023 before being replaced by Valery Gerasimov before his term ended. As Russia’s conflict with Ukraine continues, he apparently ignored the head of the Wagner Group and called on Prigozhin in a video message Friday evening to end the power struggle. Surovikin called for Putin’s dedication to his mandate, saying that "Enemies are just waiting for our domestic political situation to worsen."
