Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed in an interview that he offered the fighters of the Wagner paramilitary group the opportunity to continue operating as a unified unit under the Russian military.
The offer came following their failed insurrection last month, raising uncertainties about the fate of the militia members.
During a meeting with 35 Wagner commanders, including leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin proposed that the group could continue serving in Ukraine under their existing battlefield commander known as “Gray Hair.”
However, this would require the Wagner operatives to sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, effectively placing them under the military’s leadership structure.
According to Putin, many Wagner commanders seemed to approve of the offer. However, Prigozhin rejected the proposal, stating that “the boys won’t agree,” as per Putin’s account.
The future of Wagner as a fighting unit remains uncertain, as Russian law does not permit the existence of private military organizations.
Putin’s statement regarding this was described as lawyer-like by the Kommersant, the Russian business newspaper conducting the interview.
