The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has recently faced significant challenges to his "vertical of power," a system in which the entire Russian political structure revolves around him. One such challenge occurred in June when the Wagner mercenary groups attempted to march towards Moscow but failed. However, according to Kremlin messaging, the situation has returned to normal, and the remnants of Wagner are once again under government control.
During a televised meeting on Friday, Putin convened with Russia's Deputy Defense Minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, and former Wagner commander, Andrey Troshev. The Kremlin released a partial transcript of the meeting, indicating that it followed the customary format. Putin was seated at the head of a conference table, equipped with briefing papers and notes. He began with a few general statements before transitioning to official matters. The language used was serious, proficient, and somewhat lacking in substance. From the official summary, one could mistakenly assume that it was a routine discussion on economic plans with a regional governor.
Ukrainian servicemen ride on armoured personnel carriers on a road toward Bakhmut on July 1, 2023.
Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images
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However, upon closer examination, Putin's meeting on Friday seemed to give a positive spin to the Russian government's efforts to regain control over the mercenary group. Troshev, known by his nickname "Sedoy," meaning grey hair, was chosen by Putin to lead the group after its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, fell from power in a highly publicized manner.
After leading a rebellion within the group earlier this summer and subsequently reaching a deal to end it, Prigozhin tragically passed away in late August when his private jet crashed in the Tver region of Russia. However, the damage caused by Prigozhin to Putin's previously untarnished reputation still remains.
On Friday, Putin once again showcased his expertise in the intricacies of governance. "I'd like to discuss social matters with you," Putin addressed Troshev, refraining from mentioning Wagner by name. "You maintain connections with the comrades you fought alongside, persistently fulfilling these military tasks."
Continued Putin: "In order to ensure equality, regardless of one's position or past military service, we have established the Defenders of the Fatherland fund. I have mentioned this multiple times before and I would like to highlight once again that it is vital for us to provide identical social guarantees to all individuals who have performed or are performing combat missions, regardless of their status."
A glimpse of the future
The Russian government may be using the promise of "social guarantees" to imply that they will adopt a system of financial support and compensation similar to what Wagner fighters in Ukraine received under Prigozhin's leadership. This had earned the mercenary leader some loyalty. The fact that these guarantees apply "regardless of status" suggests that mercenary activities are technically illegal according to Russian law. The Russian leader also mentioned a previous offer made to Wagner fighters after the failed rebellion: either sign contracts with the Russian ministry of defense or relocate to neighboring Belarus. However, the future of Wagner in Belarus is uncertain now, and it seems that the Russian government is now actively attempting to incorporate the remaining Wagner members into conventional military structures, along with all the associated benefits.
During the recent meeting, Putin referred to your upcoming role in organizing volunteer units capable of executing diverse combat tasks, primarily within the special military operation zone. He made use of the official euphemism for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Considering your personal experience of serving in a similar unit for over a year, you possess firsthand knowledge of the operational procedures and the challenges that must be addressed beforehand to ensure the smooth and victorious execution of combat missions.
As people lay carnations to a memorial, they pay tribute to Yevgeny Prigozhin, who tragically lost his life in a plane crash on August 24, 2023, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
Vladimir Alexandrov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
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According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday that Troshev is currently collaborating with the defense ministry, indicating that he will not operate independently like Prigozhin. However, it does not address the larger issue of the Russian state's intentions regarding the outsourced work in Africa, the Middle East, and other regions that has been assigned to Wagner. Wagner fighters have been involved in various African nations such as Mali, the Central African Republic, and Libya.
Yevkurov's presence at the meeting provides a potential indication. Towards the end of August, Yevkurov spearheaded a Russian military delegation to Benghazi, a city in Libya, to engage with the Libyan National Army, which is led by the rebellious general Khalifa Haftar.
For a number of years, Wagner has been supporting the Libyan National Army and reportedly provided assistance during Haftar's military campaign against the government in Tripoli from 2019 to 2020. The US military claims that Wagner has also utilized Libya as a strategic hub, conducting cargo flights to supplies its operations in the eastern part of the country.
Additional evidence suggests that Wagner has utilized facilities in Libya to provide support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. Wagner has traditionally operated as a covert instrument of Russian foreign policy. Based on the recent meeting, it seems that Yevkurov will serve as a key figure for upcoming Wagner operations, while Troshev will be responsible for overseeing Wagner 2.0 specifically for the conflict in Ukraine.
