Now Putin’s Shadow Army Is Building Its Own Air Force

Putin’s shadow army – the infamous Wagner mercenary group – is growing in power. According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), founder and financier Yevgeny Prigozhin (61), also known as “Putin’s cook”, because he became rich as a catering supplier to the Russian ruler and the Russian army, even has to build their own air force.

Accordingly, Prigozhin would make every effort to hire experts for missile defense and for flying helicopters and fighter jets. Until now it was not known that Wagner operates its own air force. The conclusion of the ISW: The Wagner group is evolving from an additional, unofficial mercenary into a parallel army – and thus a threat to the regular Russian army.

References to their own air force are piling up

Russian sources as well as the BBC have already confirmed the existence of at least one Wagner aviation division operating Su-25 aircraft in eastern Ukraine in May 2022. Wagner elements reportedly used a French light transport helicopter in 2021 operations in the Central African Republic.

According to ISW, the Wagner Group now wants to gear up in air defense and use complex equipment similar to the Russian military. Russian military bloggers report on newly recruited soldiers assigned to man the Pantsir S1 anti-aircraft missile systems, the S-300 anti-aircraft systems and the cockpits of fighter jets and helicopters.

A Russian military blogger reported that Wagner’s takeover of fighter jets shows that the Wagner Group is “an example of a professional army, as the Russian Ministry of Defense has pursued for years”.

Prigozhin presents himself as an alternative to Putin

For weeks, Prigozhin seems to be striving for more power. For the first time, he officially identified himself as head of the Wagner group – which he had always denied despite clear indications. With his own air force, Putin’s previous confidant would certainly establish himself as an independent player in the Russian power structure.

According to those familiar with Russia, Prigozhin could increasingly present himself to the Russian public as an alternative to Putin if his power wanes as a result of Ukraine’s military defeats. If Putin doesn’t voluntarily give up his power or if Russia even sinks into civil war, Prigozhin could use his shadow army outside Ukraine – for his own personal ends. (chs)