The Shoigu Continues the War Against Wagner in Syria and Africa
They killed the men, not the idea.
A quick recap:
The stories of Wagner being shipped off to Africa and the Middle-East to continue Russia LLC operations abroad were not fakes. This was indeed occurring and this no doubt was the original deal that was offered to Prigozhin for backing down. He was almost certainly told that Shoigu would not be able to steal his PMC and that he no longer had to fight in Ukraine. Wagner was supposed to pivot back to Africa where many international oligarchs and PMCs already operate freely, fighting for resources and contracts.
ZAnon was ecstatic about the #BLM anti-colonial Africa pivot, remember?
But then, well, the airplane accident occurred. Going forward, I assumed that this meant that the Wagner survivors would be forced to join Shoigu’s PMC instead or be eliminated as well, but that this process would be hushed up. Allow me to share some speculation on “Redut” which is the PMC in question and the aggressive acquisition of Wagner that Shoigu is trying to pull off, still. From Kasherova’s reporting:
"Wagner" can return to the front, just like "Wagner", but as part of the National Guard.
(…)
As the situation stands now, fighters from the Wagner PMC are present in the North Military District in the ranks of Akhmat, the Redut PMC, and others. The Redoubt, as I understand it, is supervised by Troshev, they were given the “musicians” base in Molkino. Together with Troshev, another part of the Wagnerites moved there and they call up those remaining in the company and offer them to switch over to them [Shoigu’s Redut], with good benefits - re-indexation of salaries, payments, status of a combat veteran.
Note: the PMC situation for the other companies was that they weren’t given combat veteran status. This was one of the grievances that they had with Shoigu’s MoD. Russia is fighting this war like a corporation would — by relying on private mercenaries in contrast to Ukraine which fights this war like a nationalist state. But because Shoigu runs the MoD, his private mercenary army is able to offer better benefits and status recognition to the soldiers. Most of the mercenaries rallied behind Prigozhin in the run-up to the Wagner mutiny to oppose their forced merger into Shoigu’s Redut. He wasn’t only trying to acquire Wagner by July 1st, but many other groups of varying size as well who refused to serve him.
Now, according to my information, the Wagner PMC itself, which has not yet been completely eliminated yet, can become a unit of the Russian Guard. Both the name and all the symbols and flag of Wagner are to be officially recognized. Contracts will be concluded with the Russian National Guard, as well as a full social package - payments, “veteran”, etc. As a division of the Russian Guard, Wagner will continue to operate in Belarus, African countries, and most importantly, will return to the Northern Military District.
A few days ago, Zolotov met with Prigozhin Jr. and Elizarov “Lotus” and discussed the conditions for the incorporation and preservation of “Wagner”. If this happens, then Zolotov will be simply ecstatic, he will preserve not just the brand, but he will retain the bearers of experience and knowledge, because as the situation stands now, Wagner … does not share all their skills and knowledge.
But there has not yet been a Council of Commanders, and who will be the brigade commander is unknown. Although “Lotos” has not yet been elected, he himself is active, apparently while others are in Africa and Belarus.
I wrote about this so much already — about how Wagner’s strength lied in its professional and experienced officers who Shoigu and Zolotov now, Putin’s right-hand man, want to acquire.