The discussion revolves around the death of Evgeny Prigozhin, a close ally and later nemesis of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his impact on the Wagner Group, a private military company. The death of Prigozhin has led to a power shift within the Wagner Group and raises questions about the future of private military forces in Russia.
Prigozhin's death has opened a troubling chapter that the Kremlin is trying to close. His mercenaries are ready to swear allegiance to the Russian State and be absorbed by it. The fate of this large force that has intervened in conflicts from Africa to Ukraine is uncertain. The discussion also touches on the pressure Russia is under as the Ukraine war drags on.
The funeral of Prigozhin was a low-key affair shrouded in secrecy. The Kremlin would like to turn the page. It is speculated that Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash and Russia is not planning to participate in any international investigation of the crash.
The fate of Prigozhin's private military force, the Wagner Group, is also uncertain. It is speculated that the Russian army could take control of the mercenaries, or they could transfer the soldiers to another paramilitary unit. Some reports suggest that Putin favors Wagner's founder, Andre Troitsky, who did not participate in the coup d'usurpion.
Putin has also bestowed more power on longtime loyalist General Viktor Solotov, head of the National Guard, who will receive new weapons like tanks and other equipment. This raises questions about the future of the Russian military and its relationship with private military forces.
The discussion also touches on the international operations of the Wagner Group, which continue despite Prigozhin's death. The Kremlin is trying to maintain these operations in Africa and Latin America, but the future of these operations is uncertain.
In conclusion, the death of Evgeny Prigozhin has led to a power shift within the Wagner Group and raises questions about the future of private military forces in Russia. The fate of these forces and their relationship with the Russian State is uncertain and will likely be determined in the coming months and years.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Evgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, has been killed in a plane crash.
2. The Kremlin has confirmed Prigozhin's death and has not planned to participate in an international investigation into the crash.
3. The plane that crashed was made in Brazil and was an Embraer business jet.
4. The crash occurred on a domestic flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
5. Russian investigators have confirmed Prigozhin's death through DNA analysis.
6. The Kremlin wants to close the chapter on Prigozhin's death and move on.
7. Prigozhin was a larger-than-life figure and his death has left a power vacuum.
8. The Wagner group has been involved in conflicts in Africa, Syria, and Ukraine.
9. The Russian army may take control of the Wagner group or disperse its resources.
10. The Kremlin may try to integrate the Wagner group into the normal defense forces.
11. Vladimir Putin has issued a decree that mercenaries must take an oath of allegiance to the Russian state.
12. Putin is bestowing more power on General Victor Solotov, head of the National Guard.
13. The National Guard will receive new equipment, including tanks.
14. The Russian state is creating a domestic army that the president can depend on.
15. The Wagner group's international operations may continue, but it's unclear who will lead them.
16. Prigozhin's death may have been a targeted killing, but it's unclear who was responsible.
17. Putin has a history of targeted killings, including the deaths of Alexander Litvinenko and Sergey Skripal.
18. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in Prigozhin's death.
19. Prigozhin's death may have been a consequence of his attempted coup against Putin in June.
20. The Wagner group's demise may have been a result of Prigozhin's growing ambition and overconfidence.
21. The Russian state may not need the Wagner group anymore, as it can conduct its own operations openly.
22. There are around 40 private military companies operating in Russia, but none have the same scope and strength as the Wagner group.
23. The Kremlin may try to create a positive turn in Ukraine before the 2024 elections.
24. Putin's dominance may be reinforced in the short term, but it's unclear how long it will last.
25. Public opinion in Russia is unclear, but some people seem to be dissatisfied with the course of the war in Ukraine.
26. Prigozhin's death has created a sense of orphanhood among some Russians, particularly those who saw him as a hero.
27. Russian society may be unimpressed by Prigozhin's death and the circumstances surrounding it.