Russian Defence Ministry Orders Wagner Group to Sign Military Contracts
The Russian Defence Ministry has ordered all “volunteer detachments” to sign contracts with the ministry by the end of June. The move is intended to increase the effectiveness of the Russian army fighting in Ukraine. Wagner Group soldiers will not sign any contracts with Russia’s defence ministry after it issued orders for all independent forces to do so by the end of June. Wagner Group is a private military company that has gained notoriety for destabilising countries across Africa while plundering natural resources. The group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has repeatedly attacked President Vladimir Putin’s top military brass for what he casts as “treachery” for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly.
The Order Does Not Apply to Wagner
Although the ministry did not mention Wagner in its public statement, Russian media reported it was an attempt by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to bring the mercenaries to heel after a series of public outbursts by its controversial leader. Prigozhin has said that Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu and that the order does not apply to Wagner. Prigozhin claims that Wagner is completely subordinate to the interests of Russia, but its highly efficient command structure would be damaged by reporting to Shoigu. He added that Wagner coordinated its actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed “General Armageddon” by the Russian media.
Increase Combat Capabilities and Effectiveness
The defence ministry said that in the interest of increasing effectiveness, all “volunteer detachments” would have to sign a contract with the defence ministry by 1 July. “This will give the volunteer formations the necessary legal status, [and] create unified approaches to the organisation of comprehensive provision and fulfilment of their tasks,” the ministry said. “These measures will increase the combat capabilities and effectiveness of the armed forces and their volunteer detachments,” Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said.
Possible Consequences of Non-Compliance
Prigozhin said the ministry might use the failure to comply with the order as a reason to deprive Wagner of supplies – an accusation he has repeatedly made. “What could happen after this order is that they will not give us weapons and ammunition. We will figure it out, as they say,” Prigozhin said. “But when the thunder breaks, they will come running and bring weapons and ammunition with a request to help.”
Conclusion
The Russian Defence Ministry’s order for all “volunteer detachments” to sign contracts with the ministry by the end of June is intended to increase the effectiveness of the Russian army fighting in Ukraine. Wagner Group soldiers will not sign any contracts with Russia’s defence ministry after it issued orders for all independent forces to do so by the end of June. Wagner Group is a private military company that has gained notoriety for destabilising countries across Africa while plundering natural resources. The group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has repeatedly attacked President Vladimir Putin’s top military brass for what he casts as “treachery” for failing to fight the war in Ukraine properly.