Vladimir Putin claims the Russian state financed the Wagner Group after previously denying his involvement. Speaking publicly after the mercenary group’s mutiny, the Russian leader says the Kremlin paid the criminal enterprise the equivalent of one billion USD. He also claims the Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, received a further 80 billion roubles for his catering company.
Putin’s announcement comes as a surprise as the Kremlin previously declared that Wagner doesn’t exist because private military contractors are illegal.
The group has been allegedly responsible for torture, rape and executions inside Ukraine and elsewhere around the world where they operate.
The Russian despot said: “We fully financed this group from the federal budget. Just from May 22 until May 23 the state paid Wagner companies 86,262,000,000 rubles [about 1 billion USD] for cash support and incentive payments.”
For years, it has been speculated the Russian government has a large sway over the organisation, despite Wagner’s self-proclaimed status as a private military contractor (PMC).
Rob Lee, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, suggests that the Russian support for Wagner extends beyond finances.
He wrote on Twitter: “Wagner is not a private entity.
“It has operated in an autonomous fashion, but it receives orders from the Russian government (which it at least previously could not refuse) and depends on support from the Russian government and military, including in Syria, Bakhmut, Africa, etc.”
Although the explanation for the rebellion which started on Friday evening (23 June) is disputed, Mr Lee speculates that Prigozhin’s rebellion was “likely” about protecting Wagner’s autonomy.
Wagner Group has been fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Russia, separate from the Russian forces led by the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Prigozhin, speaking yesterday for the first time since halting his mutiny, claims the march on Moscow was to “avoid the destruction of the Wagner Group” which he claims was “bound to cease existence on July 1”.
He claims there were plans to incorporate his group into the defence ministry, which his men were opposed to
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