Despite the use of private militaries being banned in Russia, Prigozhin appears to wield significant influence over the Kremlin – but Putin could see the mercenary founder as a threat to his authority.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is a convicted thief, a Russian Oligarch and the founder and boss of the Wagner mercenary group.
Despite private military companies being illegal in Russia, President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has benefited significantly by commissioning the Wagner Group to deliver success on the battlefield.
However, is Prigozhin’s growing influence now a threat to Putin’s authority?
In 1981, a 20-year-old Prigozhin was caught stealing – for the second time – and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for robbery – he served a total of nine years in detention.
After his release, Prigozhin began selling hot dogs in Leningrad, before founding, or becoming involved in, many new businesses. In the 2000s, Prigozhin grew closer with Vladimir Putin, and his companies started winning numerous lucrative government contracts.
Prigozhin is wealthy, but the war in Ukraine has provided him a unique platform for wider influence.
Russia had anticipated limited Ukrainian resistance to its illegal invasion, but in the event the Russian army was ill-prepared for the determined and motivated Ukrainian response. The Russian army struggled to hold ground, and Russian casualty rates were rocketing.
Putin turned to his old friend Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary group who – manned with newly recruited convicts – delivered battlefield success.
Prigozhin claimed his mercenary group was the “best army in the world”, but as his influence grew, so he became increasingly critical of the Russian MOD, its leadership, and indeed the Russian approach to the conflict.
Putin controls the Russian oligarchs through the lucrative contracts upon which they rely. But, Putin is understandably wary of mercenary groups that have their own agenda, are motivated by money and not patriotism, and who have the military capability to mount a coup.