Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin convened on Friday with one of the highest-ranking former leaders of the Wagner mercenary group, deliberating on the strategic utilization of “volunteer units” in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
This meeting serves as a clear indication of the Kremlin’s assertion that it has assumed control over the mercenary group following a mutiny led by its chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in June, culminating in Prigozhin’s tragic demise in an August plane crash alongside other senior commanders.
State television footage showcased Putin’s meeting at the Kremlin with Andrei Troshev, a former Wagner commander widely recognized by his nom de guerre, “Sedoi” or “grey hair.”
The Kremlin reported that this meeting transpired late on Thursday, with Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who has visited several countries where Wagner mercenaries were deployed in recent months, also in attendance, seated closest to Putin.
During the meeting, Putin and Troshev exchanged views on the utilization of “volunteer units” capable of executing various combat missions, primarily within the theater of the special military operation.
Addressing Troshev, Putin acknowledged his year-long service in such a unit, emphasizing the commander’s intimate knowledge of the operational intricacies that warrant preemptive resolution to ensure the effectiveness of combat endeavors.
Additionally, Putin expressed his intention to explore avenues of social support for individuals actively engaged in the conflict.
Troshev attentively listened to Putin’s remarks, leaning forward with a pencil in hand, although his responses were not shown.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Troshev currently serves in the defense ministry.
The fate of the Wagner group had been ambiguous since Prigozhin’s insurrection in June, followed by his demise in August. Subsequently, Putin mandated that Wagner fighters pledge allegiance to the Russian state, a directive that Prigozhin and many of his followers had opposed.
As per reports from Russia’s Kommersant newspaper, shortly after the Wagner mutiny, Putin had proposed Troshev as Prigozhin’s successor.
The Kremlin’s meeting with Troshev signifies that the remnants of the Wagner group will now be overseen by Troshev and Yevkurov.
Wagner, which once boasted a substantial force, gained prominence through the capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in a brutal battle during the ongoing conflict. Following Bakhmut’s fall, Wagner units withdrew from Ukraine.
Reports indicate that some Wagner fighters have since joined the ranks of the official Russian army, while others have transitioned into various private military companies (PMCs).
According to British military intelligence, numerous fighters previously associated with Wagner have likely begun redeploying to Ukraine as part of various units, although their exact status remains unclear.
Troshev, a highly decorated veteran of Russia’s engagements in Afghanistan and Chechnya and a former commander in the SOBR interior ministry rapid reaction force, hails from St. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown. He has been photographed alongside the Russian president and was awarded Russia’s highest accolade, the Hero of Russia medal, in 2016 for his role in the Palmyra storming against Islamic State militants in Syria.
