https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230627/putin-wagner-group-was-fully-funded-by-state-1060189606.html
Putin: Wagner Group Was Fully Funded by State
Putin: Wagner Group Was Fully Funded by State
Sputnik Africa
During the meeting with servicemen of the Russian Defense Ministry, President Vladimir Putin stated that military units who took part in the suppression of the... 27.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-27T14:08+0200
2023-06-27T14:08+0200
2023-06-27T15:52+0200
russia
prigozhin mutiny attempt
vladimir putin
president
military
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The Wagner group was fully funded by the government, said Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that the country’s authorities from May 2022 to May 2023 paid over 86 billion rubles (over $1 billion) to the private military company. He further elaborated that owner of the company Evgeny Prigozhin, who led the attempted mutiny on June 24, earned over 80 billion rubles ($940 million) in a year from the state through military contracts.According to the president, the fighters of the Wagner group were respected in the country. He noted that during the special military operation in Ukraine, they showed courage and heroism. Talking about last week's events, he stressed that if the mutiny started by the Wagner Group private military company had not been suppressed, the enemy would have taken advantage of this.He noted that there is no telling what would have become of the country if the mutiny had succeeded, but all the gains of the fighting would have been lost, and the military did not allow that to happen.Putin emphasized that the military personnel of the Russian Ministry of Defense had to work in tough conditions in order to avoid civilian casualties on busy highways during the mutiny.He noted that the pilots who died that day honorably fulfilled their duty, adding that the government will do everything to support their families.Putin further elaborated that he instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to ensure that the servicemen are premiered state awards for their merits. He reiterated that those who showed their courage in combat work should form the backbone of the country's military leadership.Earlier this day, Putin addressed the units of the Defense Ministry, the Russian Guard, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Interior Ministry, who were involved in the suppression of the June 24 mutiny, on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin.On June 24, the Wagner PMC captured the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, also seizing control of several administrative buildings in the southern Russian city. The development took place against the backdrop of statements by Prigozhin about missile and bomb attacks allegedly inflicted by the Russian Armed Forces on Wagner camps. The claims were dismissed by the Defense Ministry and the FSB.Following the events, President Putin called the actions of the rebels a "stab in the back" of Russia and its people. Later, it was revealed that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin, after which his press service announced that the head of the PMC accepted his proposal to stop Wagner's military march on Moscow and take further steps to de-escalate the situation.On June 27, Russia's FSB stated that the case of the armed mutiny opened against Prigozhin and the Wagner group had been closed dismissed. It was noted that the investigation of the mutiny case has established that its participants had stopped actions directly aimed at committing a crime.According to the Kremlin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will leave for Belarus, while other Wagner members won't be prosecuted.
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russia, prigozhin mutiny attempt, vladimir putin, president, military
russia, prigozhin mutiny attempt, vladimir putin, president, military
Putin: Wagner Group Was Fully Funded by State
14:08 27.06.2023 (Updated: 15:52 27.06.2023) During the meeting with servicemen of the Russian Defense Ministry, President Vladimir Putin stated that military units who took part in the suppression of the aborted Wagner armed mutiny on June 24 actually stopped a civil war in Russia, and acted clearly and harmoniously.
The Wagner group was fully funded by the government, said Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that the country’s authorities from May 2022 to May 2023 paid over 86 billion rubles (over $1 billion) to the private military company.
"The entire Wagner group was funded by the state – from the Ministry of Defense, from the state budget; we fully financed this group," Putin said while meeting with military personnel in the Kremlin.
He further elaborated that owner of the company Evgeny Prigozhin, who led the
attempted mutiny on June 24, earned over 80 billion rubles ($940 million) in a year from the state through military contracts.
"Despite the fact that the very maintenance of Wagner was on the state, the owner of the Concord company received and earned from the state through the military trade, he earned 80 billion rubles in a year supplying food and providing catering services to the military," Putin stated.
According to the president, the fighters of the Wagner group were respected in the country. He noted that during the special military operation in Ukraine, they showed courage and heroism.
"As for this Wagner group, you know, we have always treated the fighters and commanders of this group with great respect, because, indeed, they showed courage and heroism," the Russian leader said.
Talking about last week's events, he stressed that if the mutiny started by the Wagner Group private military company had not been
suppressed, the enemy would have taken advantage of this.
"Chaos in the country would be inevitable, and the enemy, of course, would take advantage of this ... [the enemy] is trying to do so. But nothing works. I hope it does not work out. I am even sure of it. But definitely absolutely — they would have taken advantage," Putin stated.
He noted that there is no telling what would have become of the country if the mutiny had succeeded, but all the gains of the fighting would have been lost, and the military did not allow that to happen.
Putin emphasized that the military personnel of the Russian Ministry of Defense had to work in tough
conditions in order to avoid civilian casualties on busy highways during the mutiny.
"Unfortunately, you had to work in very difficult conditions in order to avoid civilian casualties, because you had to work on busy highways. And even more regrettable is the fact that we have losses. These are, of course, combat losses, it is impossible to say otherwise. Our comrades died defending the Fatherland. I say this without any pathos and without any exaggeration," Putin said, addressing security forces.
He noted that the pilots who died that day honorably fulfilled their duty, adding that the government will do everything to support their families.
"Without any doubt – I already told the minister – everything will be done to support the families of our fallen comrades," Putin said.
Putin further elaborated that he instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to ensure that the servicemen are premiered state awards for their merits. He reiterated that those who showed their courage in combat work should form the backbone of the country's military leadership.
"In the near future [...], the backbone of the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces, including in its aviation unit, should be formed by those who show themselves properly in combat work," the president stated.
Earlier this day, Putin addressed the units of the Defense Ministry, the Russian Guard, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Interior Ministry, who were involved in the suppression of the June 24
mutiny, on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin.
On June 24, the Wagner PMC captured the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, also seizing control of several administrative buildings in the southern Russian city. The development took place against the backdrop of statements by Prigozhin about missile and bomb attacks allegedly inflicted by the Russian Armed Forces on Wagner camps. The claims were dismissed by the Defense Ministry and the FSB.
Following the events, President Putin called the actions of the rebels a "stab in the back" of Russia and its people. Later, it was revealed that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin, after which his press service announced that the head of the PMC
accepted his proposal to stop Wagner's military march on Moscow and take further steps to de-escalate the situation.
On June 27, Russia's FSB stated that the case of the armed mutiny opened against Prigozhin and the Wagner group had been closed dismissed. It was noted that the investigation of the mutiny case has established that its participants had stopped actions directly aimed at committing a crime.
According to the Kremlin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will leave for Belarus, while other Wagner members won't be prosecuted.
