Russia’s Wagner Group Refuses Contract with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, says Founder Prigozhin

MOSCOW – The most powerful mercenary group Russia Wagner, said on Sunday (11/6/2023), that Wagner will not sign any contract with the Minister of Defense of Russia, Sergei Shoigu.

As Reuters reports, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, has repeatedly attacked Russian military top brass for what he views as treason, for failing to fight properly in Ukraine.

Neither Shoigu nor Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov commented publicly about the insult from Prigozhin. In May, Wagner’s troops captured the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after fighting that killed tens of thousands of people.

The defense ministry said on Saturday Shoigu had ordered all “volunteer detachments” to sign contracts with his ministry by the end of the month, a move it said would increase the effectiveness of the Russian army.

Although the ministry did not mention Wagner in its public statements, Russian media reported that it was Shoigu’s attempt to get the mercenaries into submission.

“Wagner will not sign any contract with Shoigu,” Prigozhin said in response to a request for comment on the matter. “That order does not apply to Wagner,” he continued.

The defense ministry did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters. Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries rose to prominence for what the United States says was destabilizing countries across Africa, plundering natural resources, and even meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

Prigozhin said Wagner was completely subordinate to Russian interests. However, his highly efficient command structure would be broken by reporting to the Shoigu.

“The Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations,” said Prigozhin. It added that Wagner coordinated his actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovikin, who was dubbed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media.

(esn)