Unrest in Russia: Prigozhin opposes new treaty and thus Shoigu Fighting in Sudan continues after ceasefire

The Russian Ministry of Defense wants to bring all Russian volunteer organizations under its command by order. All of these units must sign a contract with the agency before July 1, Moscow deputy defense minister Nikolai Pankov said. There are now more than 40 voluntary associations whose legal position must be safeguarded in this way. The head of the Russian private army Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced on Sunday that he refuses to sign such a contract.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu can determine the ministry and soldiers, Prigozhin said in a voice message published on his Telegram channel. However, the minister has not yet been able to lead his own troops. Wagner will therefore not sign any contracts with Shoigu. Wagner might then not get any arms or ammunition – but only until the ministry needed the help of the private army.

At the same time, with regard to authority, Prigozhin stressed that he is subordinate to President Vladimir Putin as commander-in-chief and to the interests of Russia. On the other hand, he had previously accused Shoigu and Russian Chief of Staff Valeri Gerasimov of incompetence in view of numerous defeats in Moscow’s offensive war against Ukraine.

Prigozhin said his mercenary army was determining combat missions in conjunction with Gerasimov’s deputy Sergey Surovikin. Surovikin is smart, experienced and stands for a high degree of effectiveness and success. There was initially no official response to Prigozhin’s Moscow refusal. As Putin’s closest confidant in Russia, Prigozhin is considered untouchable.

Schoigu’s deputy Pankow had stated that the integration of the units into the ministry was intended to improve military capabilities and the effective deployment of fighters. The troops could therefore be better equipped, it said. However, there are repeated complaints from Russian soldiers about inadequate equipment. (sda/dpa)