Wagner will no longer fight in Ukraine

(Patria) - Founder of the mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, refused to sign any contracts with the Kremlin, said the chairman of the Defense Committee of the Russian Duma, who was quoted in the Russian state media.

TASS cites the words of Andrey Kartapolov, who said that due to this refusal, Prigozhin was told that his fighters would no longer have a role in the war in Ukraine.

RIA also reports that "even before the events of June 24 (Wagner's rebellion), Prigozhin was told that Wagner would not participate in the "special operation" (as the Kremlin calls the invasion of Ukraine), reports Index.hr.

What is Wagner and why is it important?

The Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, played a key role in Russia's military engagement in Ukraine.

Although the Kremlin has routinely denied any formal ties to the Wagner Group until recently, many experts believe that its operatives have acted as an extended arm of the Russian military, performing tasks that were often too risky or politically sensitive for regular military units.

In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, Wagner fighters have been responsible for a number of operations, including fighting Ukrainian forces, securing strategic facilities, and, according to some reports, participating in operations against the civilian population.

Their presence on the ground has allowed Moscow to maintain a degree of plausible deniability regarding its involvement in the conflict. Wagner was crucial in the capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

A major turning point

However, this new information about Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, and his refusal to sign new contracts with the Kremlin, represents a significant turning point.

This move not only calls into question the future participation of Wagner fighters in the conflict but also indicates a possible rift between the Kremlin and this secretive organization.

It is still not entirely clear why Prigozhin refused to sign new contracts, but some sources suggest that it could be related to the recent rebellion.

The Wagner Group was involved in a rebellion against the Kremlin, which led to tensions between this group and the Russian government.

If this is true, Prigozhin's refusal of new contracts could be an indicator of deep disagreement between Wagner and the Kremlin, which could have significant consequences for the course of the conflict in Ukraine.