When Wagner, who is described as an important paramilitary apparatus for Russia, hoisted the flag of rebellion, the eyes of the whole world turned to them. The Wagner uprising was widely seen as a very important test to test the loyalty of the elitist system established by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Prigojin’s targets were Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Russian Chief of General Staff Valeri Vasilyevich Gerasimov. Prigojin criticized these two statesmen with very harsh words and demanded their immediate dismissal.
Sergey Shoigu, the criticized interlocutor in this incident, which almost led to the civil war in Russia, has not been seen since the events began. Shoigu’s silence brought to mind the allegations that he was kidnapped or that he might have left the country.
Shoigu’s images were presented to the world press for the first time today.
In a video released this morning by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Shoigu was seen cruising in a plane with a colleague and listening to reports at a command post run by Russia’s Zapad military group.
LEARNED ABOUT UKRAINE FRONTS
Russia’s Zvezda Defense Ministry TV Channel said that Shoigu, who seemed physically unharmed and calm, listened to the report of the group’s commander, Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov, on the current situation on the fronts in Ukraine.
Wagner’s mercenary boss, Yevgeny Prigojin, had demanded that Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov be handed over to him in order to “restore justice” during Russia’s revolt in which it took control of its military headquarters in southern Russia.
WHAT HAPPENED
Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, accused both the defense minister and the chief of staff of gross incompetence and corruption, and had long been pressuring Putin for their dismissal.
Prigojin demanded that Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov be handed over to him in order to “restore justice” in Russia’s revolt in which it took control of Rostov and Voronezh in the south.
“Shoot out of our way, soldiers sent by the Ministry of Defense to prevent us. We are not fighting children. Let the soldiers sent by the (Russian) Ministry of Defense to prevent us from getting out of our way. We do not kill children. Shoigu, who killed children by throwing them to the front without training. We will destroy anyone who stands in our way. We will go to the end.”
“I say it once again. We want Shoigu and the Chief of the General Staff here. We will be here until they come. We will block Rostov and go to Moscow.”
When Prigojin threatened Shoigu and the Ministry of Defense, Putin said, “I am in constant communication with the officials of the Ministry of Defense.”
With the mediator role of Belarusian leader Lukashenko, the Wagner revolt subsided and a middle ground was found.