Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with Andrei Troshev, a prominent former commander of the Wagner mercenary group, to discuss the strategic deployment of “volunteer units” in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This meeting serves to emphasize the Kremlin’s assertion of control over the group following a failed mutiny led by its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in June. Prigozhin, along with other senior commanders, tragically perished in a plane crash in August.
The meeting, held at the Kremlin and broadcasted on state television, also included Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who has been actively engaging with countries where Wagner mercenaries have operated. During the meeting, Putin acknowledged Troshev’s extensive experience in such units, spanning over a year of active combat. Putin emphasized the importance of addressing logistical challenges beforehand to ensure successful missions in the special military zone. Additionally, he expressed interest in discussing the welfare and support of those involved in the conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed that Troshev now holds a position at the defense ministry.
Since Prigozhin’s failed mutiny in June and subsequent passing in August, the fate of the Wagner group has been uncertain. Putin mandated that Wagner members pledge allegiance to the Russian state, a directive that Prigozhin and many of his followers opposed. Reports in Russian media suggest that shortly after the mutiny, Putin proposed Troshev take over leadership. This recent meeting indicates that Troshev, alongside Yevkurov, will now oversee the remaining elements of Wagner.
Wagner, once comprising tens of thousands of fighters, gained notoriety for their capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in a particularly fierce battle. Following this victory, Wagner units withdrew from Ukraine. British military intelligence speculates that potentially hundreds of former Wagner fighters have begun repositioning in Ukraine as part of various units, though the exact details of their deployment remain unclear. These individuals may have integrated into official Russian Ministry of Defence forces or other private military companies, according to British military intelligence.
Troshev, a distinguished veteran of Russia’s conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya, as well as a former commander in the SOBR interior ministry rapid reaction force, hails from St. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown. In 2016, he was honored with Russia’s highest medal, the Hero of Russia, for his role in the liberation of Palmyra in Syria from Islamic State militants.
