Russian Defense Minister Shoigu had previously requested that the ‘volunteer’ fighters (including Kadyrov’s Chechen militias and Wagner group mercenaries, ed) sign a contract with the Defense Ministry. This was to streamline the war effort and bring all militias under one command.
The reason given by the ministry was to increase the “effectiveness of deploying formations of volunteers as part of the Joint Group of Forces”, but it is generally accepted that it is Shoigu’s ploy to discipline the “enfant terrible” Prigozhin. The contracts should be signed by 1 July.
And where the Chechen leader Kadyrov signed the contract, Prizgozjin flatly refused. Prigozhin has never hidden his contempt for Shoygu and his ministry. During the fighting around Bachmut, Boss Wagner publicly accused Shoigu of withholding ammunition. “None of Wagner’s warriors are willing to walk the path of shame again. That’s why they won’t sign contracts,” Prigozhin said today.
Put in
Salient: During a televised meeting yesterday, Putin backed a Defense Ministry call for “volunteer” fighters in Ukraine to sign contracts with the country’s military command. Russian President Putin has said the contracts are necessary for all participants in the Russian campaign in Ukraine to receive the social benefits to which they are entitled. These include compensation for combatants if they are injured and for their families if they die in battle.
Prigozhin, who has previously said he does not believe Shoygu is capable of commanding military formations, hopes a compromise can be reached between Putin and parliament to give Wagner’s fighters social guarantees and certified fighter status.
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