With the Wagner group, Moscow already has a unit outside of the regular army. Another unit is to be added. Wagner boss Prigozhin and ex-secret service officer Girkin set up a new battalion. Both men are harsh critics of the Russian military leadership.
According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is close to the Kremlin, is gaining power in Russia. The head of the mercenary force, Wagner, had teamed up with former intelligence officer and separatist leader Igor Girkin to create a new volunteer battalion to fight in Ukraine. The expansion of the military structure parallel to the Russian army could endanger the power of President Vladimir Putin, the experts report in their current situation report.
In the Russian power apparatus, Prigozhin has a unique position. The 61-year-old repeatedly criticizes the Russian military leadership without suffering any consequences. According to the institute, Putin is dependent on the Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine and is therefore allowing the 61-year-old to do his thing, even though he is undermining the position of the army leadership. Since Prigozhin does not hold a formal position, he can criticize other authorities in the Kremlin without becoming a target himself.
Cooperation with Girkin could bring Prigozhin a lot of approval from the nationalist camp, the ISW suspects. Because Girkin is also one of the critics of the military planners in Moscow. According to Russian war bloggers, bureaucratic hurdles and skepticism within the armed forces are responsible for the fact that Girkin has not yet been able to set up his own volunteer battalion. Prigozhin has a lot of experience in this area.
The 61-year-old was for a time a supplier to the Kremlin's kitchens, earning him the nickname "Putin's chef." He entertained high state guests and also became a kind of commissary for the Russian army. According to the ISW, Prigozhin belongs to the "war to victory" faction in the Kremlin. His group of mercenaries has already served in various conflicts for Russia. In the meantime, the troops in Ukraine are playing an increasingly important role. The unit is particularly involved in the Donbass offensive in the direction of Bakhmut. The mercenaries are also building a defensive position in the area, dubbed the "Wagner Line."
For his part, Girkin has experience in the fight against Ukraine. The 51-year-old was the "defense minister" of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic for a while and also commanded units himself. He is believed to be responsible for shooting down the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board. The government in Kyiv has offered a bounty on his head.
On Telegram, Girkin has already shared relevant recruitment requirements for the unit. We are looking for physically robust and healthy men under the age of 50. There are retirement benefits for military personnel.
