Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military group Wagner, confirmed the group’s fighters’ refusal to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the agreements necessary.
In a rare direct show of defiance for the Russian president, Prigozhin said, “No one among the Wagner fighters is ready to descend down the path of shame again. That is why they will not sign contracts.”“.
In a televised meeting Tuesday, Putin endorsed an invitation from the Defense Ministry for “volunteer” fighters in Ukraine to sign contracts with the country’s military leadership, in what is widely seen as a way to assert control over Wagner..
Putin said the contracts were necessary to allow all participants in Russia’s campaign in Ukraine to receive their social support payments. These entitlements include compensation for combatants in the event of injury and for their families if they are killed in action.
Prigozhin has entered into an intense public feud with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and senior army commanders since last year, accusing them of failing to provide adequate support and ammunition to Wagner’s forces in Ukraine, causing them to incur greater losses..
But he said in remarks that he believed a “compromise” would be found between Putin and parliament to enable Wagner fighters to obtain social guarantees and certified combatant status.
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2023-06-15 03:06:09
