The Wagner Group does not exist, I cannot comment on the future – Putin's spokesperson

The Kremlin is insisting that legally, the Wagner Group is not a private military company (PMC). Even though such a group of mercenaries does exist, the Kremlin has made no comment on its future following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Source: Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a comment to Russian journalists

Quote: "Let’s not forget that there is no such structure; the Wagner PMC de jure does not exist. The Wagner Group does indeed exist.

The president has repeatedly stated that this group made a significant contribution to the course of the special military operation [the war against Ukraine – ed.]. Yesterday, Pushilin [Denis Pushylin, head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) – ed.] said that it made a contribution to the liberation of some areas of the Donetsk People’s Republic [the DPR is not recognised by Ukraine or the rest of the world – ed.]. The heroism of these people will never be forgotten; this is what the president has said.

Concerning the future, I cannot say anything at the moment."

Details: Asked whether it was true that Andrei Troshev is considered to be the successor of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Peskov replied: "That is not a question for us. Who is supposed to consider him as such? You are putting this question to me. No such organisation exists de jure."

When the journalist suggested that Troshev may have become the leader of the Wagner Group, Peskov responded: "So you think he is supposed to be appointed by someone?"

For reference: 61-year-old Andrei Troshev is a retired colonel and "Hero of Russia" who formerly worked in various bodies of Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. He fought in the Afghan and Second Chechen wars. When the "military operation" in Syria started, Troshev, then already retired, went to manage the Wagner Group’s logistics and security services.

Troshev, who goes under the alias Sedoi (Grey-Haired), is considered to be the second most significant figure in the Wagner Group after Prigozhin. He was the first commander to refuse to participate in the mutiny on 24 June 2023. According to some reports, he informed the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) about the mutiny.

On 29 June, Putin referred to Troshev as Wagner’s Kremlin-linked commander. It was assumed that he would become the new chief of the mercenaries who did not go to Belarus, remaining loyal to Prigozhin.

After the attempted mutiny, analysts believed that the Kremlin wanted to retain the Wagner mercenaries for its future operations, but not under Prigozhin’s leadership.

Troshev was added to the sanctions lists of all EU countries on 13 December 2021. He was sanctioned by the UK on 29 June 2022 and by Ukraine on 26 February 2023.

On 23-24 June, Prigozhin attempted to march in the direction of Moscow, but stopped the mutiny and went to Belarus with some of his mercenaries. On 23 August, he was likely killed in a plane crash.

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