In a significant move, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met Andrei Troshev, a prominent ex-commander of the Wagner mercenary group. The meeting holds importance as the Kremlin stated that Troshev now works for the defense ministry. Troshev, a former aide to the late Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash, has been assigned by President Putin to oversee volunteer fighter units in Ukraine. This development comes in the wake of the Wagner mutiny in June, which posed a major challenge to Putin’s authority. Putin has been actively focusing on regaining control, and he recently called for employees of Wagner and other Russian private military contractors to pledge their allegiance to the Russian state. Notably, Troshev, also known as Sedoi, is a highly respected veteran of Russia’s wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya and was awarded the Hero of Russia Award for his role as a Wagner commander in supporting government forces in Syria. With Prigozhin’s death, questions arise regarding the future of the Wagner group, and the Kremlin has denied any involvement in the crash. This meeting with Troshev signifies Putin’s attempt to consolidate his power and maintain control over the activities of private military contractors.
Vladimir Putin’s Meeting with former Wagner Commander Andrei Troshev Signals Power Reassertion
