REUTERS:
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Andrei Troshev, a former senior commander of the Wagner mercenary group, to discuss the utilization of “volunteer units” in the Ukraine conflict. The meeting, which took place at the Kremlin, was aimed at demonstrating the Russian government’s control over the mercenary group following a failed mutiny by its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in June, who was subsequently killed in a plane crash in August, along with other high-ranking commanders.
During the meeting, Putin and Troshev discussed the role of volunteer units in combat tasks, particularly in the zone of the special military operation. Putin acknowledged Troshev’s firsthand experience as he had been part of such a unit for over a year. The discussion also touched upon social support for individuals involved in combat.
Troshev, also known by his nom de guerre “Sedoi” or “grey hair,” was seen nodding and listening attentively during Putin’s remarks. However, his comments during the meeting were not shown to the public.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Troshev now works at the defense ministry.
The fate of the Wagner group has been uncertain since Prigozhin’s failed mutiny and subsequent death. Following Prigozhin’s demise, Putin ordered Wagner fighters to pledge allegiance to the Russian state, a move that Prigozhin and many of his associates had opposed. According to reports, Putin had suggested Troshev as a potential replacement for Prigozhin just days after the mutiny.
The recent meeting between Putin and Troshev at the Kremlin suggests that what remains of the Wagner mercenary group may now be under the oversight of Troshev and Yevkurov.
Wagner, which at one point had tens of thousands of personnel, gained notoriety for its capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in May, marking one of the bloodiest battles in the Ukraine conflict. Following the capture of Bakhmut, Wagner units withdrew from Ukraine.
Reports indicate that some former Wagner fighters have transitioned into formal service within the Russian military, while others have joined different private military companies (PMCs). British military intelligence has suggested that potentially hundreds of ex-Wagner fighters have started to redeploy to Ukraine as part of various units, though the exact status of these redeployed personnel remains unclear. It is possible that some have transferred to components of the official Russian Ministry of Defence forces or other PMCs.
Troshev, a decorated veteran with experience in Russia’s conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya, as well as a former commander in the SOBR interior ministry rapid reaction force, hails from St. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown, and has been photographed alongside the Russian president. He was awarded Russia’s highest medal, the Hero of Russia, in 2016 for his role in the Palmyra operation in Syria against Islamic State militants.