Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov is convinced that the days of the Wagner mercenary group are numbered. “There is no longer a Wagner group as you could see as a serious fighting force a year ago. It is broken,” said the politician in an interview with the German media “Bild”, “Welt” and “Politico”.
After the plane crash northwest of the Russian capital, which allegedly killed Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, Resnikov considers Russian President Vladimir Putin politically weakened. The head of the Kremlin had an agreement with the alleged crash victim after the march on Moscow – which Putin failed to keep. “Because it showed the world that if Putin makes a deal and breaks that deal, it means he can no longer be trusted,” the minister said.
Reznikov: ‘The Kremlin is acting like a gangster’
This action could hurt the Russian ruler in the long run, because “the next time someone marches again, they won’t believe Putin either. And then they will march on,” Resnikov is convinced. He expects more uprisings to follow. He finds dramatic words for the behavior of the Russian government: “The Kremlin behaves like a gangster, like a criminal. A man who is such a man cannot be part of a serious deal.”
‘It was by no means an accident’
The defense minister does not believe the Kremlin is not responsible for the crash. “I think he was either killed, or at least his crew was killed. It was by no means an accident,” he is quoted by “Bild”. After the June uprising, Putin considered Prigozhin his enemy – that was sufficient reason for his assassination.
The Wagner group will no longer play a significant role in the conflict in Ukraine, not even in Ukraine’s counter-offensive. The mercenaries have since been integrated into the Russian armed forces or into a private company in Africa.
Many senior figures of the Wagner group in a crash jet
A private jet on its way from Moscow to Saint Petersburg crashed on Wednesday. High-ranking heads of the Wagner group would have been in the machine. It is suspected that the incident may have been an act of revenge by the Kremlin for Prigozhin’s betrayal. As Russia expert Gerhard Mangott explained, “It was a contract killing by the political leaders.” His death was “only a matter of time” – and a demonstration of power by Putin.
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.
