They are considered unscrupulous, calculating and cold-hearted: Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigoschin (61) and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (46). Both have a special nickname. Prigozhin is known as “Putin’s chef” because he got rich supplying catering to the Russian army. Kadyrov is considered “Putin’s bloodhound” because of his loyalty to the Kremlin and his willingness to go to war for the Russian president.
They should really support Putin, but the truth is that the two men are taking the opportunity to expand their power.
According to military experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), it is precisely the ‘siloviki’, senior intelligence and military officials who are increasing their influence. Not to win the war. They are concerned with “personal interests”. Above all “Putin’s cook” and “Putin’s bloodhound”.
Millions in the bill, US elections manipulated
According to the ISW, the Wagner boss is currently building several training centers in Ukraine to attract more fighters. The men are not supposed to fight in the Russian army, but on the side of Prigozhin. At the end of October, “Putin’s Koch” also began construction of an independent fortress in Belgorod Oblast, called the “Wagner Line”.
He also repeatedly attacks the governor of Saint Petersburg, Alexander Beglow (66), and has opened his own center in the city. The ISW suspects he is “trying to infiltrate the city’s business community”. “Putin’s cook” is already a powerful entrepreneur and has millions in the bill. Now more money is coming.
Prigozhin continues to profile himself as a strong Russian foreign policy man, admitting only Monday that he interfered in the US election campaign. “We are involved, we are doing it and we will continue to do it,” Prigozhin told his company’s online network Concord on Monday. The statement came a day before the United States’ midterm congressional elections. Moscow has been accused of meddling in elections for years. Therefore, sanctions were imposed on Prigozhin.
Both men are currently untouchable
Ramzan Kadyrov also tries to enrich himself. According to the ISW, “Putin’s bloodhound” and his henchmen are “building business networks in the occupied territories”. In addition, the Chechen leader and his men in Ukraine would earn a decent income from looting.
Kadyrov behaves in the same way as Prigozhin. Both would promote their own army and thereby undermine the Russian army. Unlike Putin’s troops, they have good equipment and training. At the same time, conditions in the Russian army are catastrophic. That’s exactly what plays into the hands of Kadyrov and Prigozhin.
According to the ISW, both “Putin’s cook” and “Putin’s bloodhound” were allowed to continue undisturbed. The Kremlin boss is urgently dependent on them and cannot punish them or limit their power. They are currently untouchable. That could end up breaking Putin’s neck. Prigozhin is being traded as the next president of Russia and thus as Putin’s successor. (yeah)