Yevgeny Prigozhin's son takes command of Russia's Wagner Group

The son of former Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has reportedly assumed command of the mercenary group. Pavel Prigozhin, 25, is said to be engaged in negotiations with Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, regarding the potential involvement of the Wagner Group in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a report by the leading US think tank Institute for the Study of War. The Wagner Group has seen its key combat units dispersed across multiple countries, including Belarus, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Mali. However, the group has been without a clear, unified leader since the tragic passing of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who lost his life in a plane crash in August. This development follows a mixed reaction within the Wagner Group to Vladimir Putin’s public association with former Wagner Group commander, Andrey Troshev, who now holds a position within the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The ISW report highlights that “some Wagner personnel are interested in rallying around a Prigozhin-linked alternative to the Kremlin- and MoD-aligned Troshev.” Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former leader of the Wagner mercenary group, was involved in an unsuccessful coup attempt against Russian President Vladimir Putin in June. The Wagner Group had previously operated alongside Russia’s regular military forces in Ukraine. After the failed coup, the Kremlin announced Prigozhin’s exile to Belarus, with his fighters given the choice to retire, follow him there, or join the Russian military. Yevgeny Prigozhin lost his life in a plane crash while on a flight from Moscow to St Petersburg. The crash resulted in the unfortunate demise of all 10 individuals on board, including three crew members, as confirmed by Russia’s emergency ministry.