Where is Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin? Is the head of the Wagner mercenary group, expelled from the Kremlin, hiding from the entrance of Vladimir Putin? Or is he already in captivity? On Friday, a photo appeared on a Telegram channel near the Wagner Group on which Prigozhin was sitting on a camp bed in his underpants.
What is behind the somewhat bizarre recording is unclear. The photo would have been taken on Wednesday morning, but actually posing in his underpants and bodysuit does not quite fit the image that the once powerful mercenary boss likes to convey. Prigozhin prefers to pose in combat gear with a Rolex, presenting himself as the leader of his mercenary group.
Wagner fighters would train soldiers in Belarus
Since the failed coup in Russia, Prigozhin has disappeared from the scene. Initially it was said that he had gone to Belarus – where his Wagner fighters are said to be currently training soldiers. At least that is what the Ministry of Defense in Minsk announced on Friday. “The combatants act as instructors in a number of military disciplines,” the statement said. The training takes place near the town of Ossipowitschi south of the capital Minsk.
It is unclear whether Prigozhin is – involuntarily or not – also in Belarus. He is also rumored to be hiding out at a Wagner base in southern Russia. The Kremlin recently attempted to portray the Wagner boss as an aloof billionaire after Russia’s FSB secret service published photos of Prigozhin’s villa. Putin’s ex-closet may want to present himself again as part of his troops with the underpants photo.
Putin: “Wagner Group Doesn’t Exist”
However, it seems more than likely that Putin’s henchmen will be able to track down Prigozhin. The Kremlin chief said on Friday that Prigozhin had refused to allow his fighters to integrate into Russia’s security forces. “Prigozhin (…) said after listening: ‘No, the guys will not agree with such a decision,'” Putin said. The president reiterated that the Wagner mercenary group had disbanded: “It just doesn’t exist.”
Three weeks ago, Prigozhin had led the uprising of his mercenaries. His troops temporarily took control of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, where the army has its headquarters for the war in Ukraine. A few hundred kilometers from Moscow, Prigozhin, who had repeatedly criticized the Russian military leadership, broke off the mutiny. An agreement was reached granting Prigozhin impunity and exile in Belarus.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
