Title: The Ugly Personal Feud Between Russia’s Defense Ministry and Putin’s Chef Has Roots in the Battle for Bakhmut
Subtitle: Wagner Group commander Yevgeny Prigozhin’s obsession with the capture of Bakhmut sparks tensions with the Russian Ministry of Defense
Date: June 24, 2023
A recent report by The New York Times has shed light on the deep-rooted dispute between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the Wagner Group. The origins of this feud can be traced back to the Battle of Bakhmut in Ukraine.
Last May, Russia successfully captured Bakhmut, marking a significant victory for Prigozhin, whose mercenaries led the attack. The seizure of the Ukrainian city seemed to be a personal obsession for Prigozhin, and it was during this battle that differences between him and the Ministry of Defense began to surface.
Since then, Prigozhin has been actively promoting himself and his forces on social media, portraying them as superior fighters compared to the Russian military. He has also criticized the bureaucracy within the defense ministry while maintaining a close alliance with President Vladimir Putin.
In May of this year, Prigozhin announced that he would withdraw his fighters from Bakhmut due to a shortage of ammunition, which he blamed on the army. He had been accusing the Russian General Staff of deliberately withholding ammunition to prevent his group from achieving a victory that the regular army could not.
The tensions between Prigozhin and Russian defense officials escalated further when he publicly accused the defense minister and top general of treason in profanity-laced audio messages on social media. Prigozhin claimed that the military officials were intentionally undermining him by withholding supplies, while Russian forces elsewhere faced repeated failures.
The intensity of the conflict reached a point where President Putin personally intervened and called for a meeting with Prigozhin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The leaked US intelligence document suggests that the meeting was related to Prigozhin’s public accusations and the resulting tension with Shoigu.
Over time, Prigozhin’s fighters in Bakhmut eventually received the ammunition they needed, and the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged their cooperation. However, Prigozhin’s criticism of the military leadership persisted, culminating in his recent rebellion against the Russian army.
In response to Prigozhin’s rebellion, President Putin delivered a speech condemning the armed rebellion as treason and a mortal threat to the Russian state. He vowed to defend the people and Russia, promising decisive action to stabilize the situation.
Prigozhin, in turn, rejected Putin’s orders to surrender and denied the allegations of treason. He called his fighters patriots and stated that they would not surrender to the president or the security services.
The feud between Prigozhin and the Russian defense officials has become increasingly exposed as the first anniversary of the war approaches. The Battle of Bakhmut alone is believed to have claimed the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers, including poorly trained convicts recruited by Prigozhin.
As the conflict continues to unfold, the personal feud between Russia’s defense ministry and Putin’s chef highlights the complex dynamics and power struggles within the country’s military establishment.The Ugly Personal Feud Between Russia’s Defense Ministry and Putin’s Chef Has Roots in the Battle for Bakhmut
A recent report by The New York Times has shed light on the origins of the ongoing dispute between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the Wagner Group. According to the report, the roots of this feud can be traced back to the Battle of Bakhmut in Ukraine.
The Battle of Bakhmut, which took place last May, marked a significant victory for Prigozhin and his mercenaries. It was during this battle that differences between Prigozhin and the Ministry of Defense began to surface. Prigozhin’s obsession with capturing the Ukrainian city seemed to be a personal one, and he began to openly criticize the Ministry of Defense for its bureaucracy.
In an attempt to portray his forces as more effective fighters than the Russian military, Prigozhin increased his presence on social media. He also accused the Russian General Staff of not supplying his group with enough ammunition to secure a victory in Bakhmut. This led to a public rift between Prigozhin and Russian defense officials.
In May of this year, Prigozhin announced that he would withdraw his fighters from Bakhmut due to a shortage of ammunition, which he blamed on the Russian army. He accused the military bureaucrats of deliberately withholding supplies to undermine his group’s success.
The tension between Prigozhin and the Russian defense officials escalated further when he released two video clips criticizing the military’s handling of the battle for Bakhmut. In one of the clips, he claimed that his forces were on the verge of taking control of the city before the ammunition supplies were cut off.
The New York Times report also highlighted the significant number of casualties suffered by Prigozhin’s mercenaries during the battle for Bakhmut. According to the head of the Wagner Group, more than 20,000 of his troops were killed, accounting for 20% of the 50,000 Russian convicts he had recruited to fight in the war. These figures contradict Moscow’s claims of losing only 6,000 soldiers in the conflict.
As the first anniversary of the war approaches, the rift between Prigozhin and Russian defense officials has become more apparent. Prigozhin has accused top military figures of treason and has publicly criticized the Russian army’s leadership.
The dispute between Prigozhin and the Russian Ministry of Defense has escalated to the point where President Vladimir Putin has become personally involved. He called for a meeting with Prigozhin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to address the tensions. The leaked US intelligence document suggests that the meeting was related to Prigozhin’s public accusations and the resulting tension with Shoigu.
The intensity of the conflict has continued to evolve, with Prigozhin eventually receiving the ammunition his forces needed. The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged their cooperation with Wagner’s group, stating that Russian paratrooper units were covering their flanks in Bakhmut.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Prigozhin offered to provide the positions of Russian forces to the Ukrainian army. This offer was quickly denied by Kiev, but it further strained the relationship between Prigozhin and the Russian military.
In response to Prigozhin’s rebellion against the army leadership, Putin delivered a speech condemning the armed rebellion and accusing Prigozhin of treason. He vowed to defend Russia and take decisive action to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don, where Prigozhin claimed his forces had taken control of military facilities.
Prigozhin, in turn, denied the allegations of treason and called his fighters patriots. He refused to surrender and criticized Putin for his accusations. This marks the first time that Prigozhin has personally attacked Putin.
The situation remains tense, with the Wagner Group reportedly taking control of military facilities in Voronezh, south of Moscow. Prigozhin also claimed to have entered the general headquarters of the army command in Rostov and taken control of military sites, including an airport.
Putin acknowledged the difficult situation in Rostov and ordered strict measures to restore order. He declared a state of combating terrorism and ordered the Russian armed forces to neutralize those responsible for the armed rebellion.
The ongoing feud between Prigozhin and the Russian Ministry of Defense highlights the deep divisions within the Russian military and the personal ambitions at play. As the war in Ukraine continues, the consequences of this dispute remain uncertain.
What are the potential consequences of the personal feud between Russia’s defense ministry and Putin’s chef for the effectiveness and unity of the country’s military establishment?
Igu.
As the conflict continues to unfold, the personal feud between Russia’s defense ministry and Putin’s chef highlights the complex dynamics and power struggles within the country’s military establishment. The Battle of Bakhmut and Prigozhin’s obsession with capturing the city have fueled tensions between him and the defense ministry. The ongoing dispute raises questions about the efficiency and coordination among different factions within the Russian military and the implications it has for the overall stability of the country.
