All About Yevgeny Prigozhin: Saturday, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, pledged to “go to any lengths” to overthrow the Russian military leadership. He accused the military of launching attacks against his forces and vowed to “destroy everything in our path.”
The challenge made by Prigozhin to President Vladimir Putin is the most audacious since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine last year.
The chief of the mercenary group Wagner stated that his forces had crossed the Ukrainian frontier, prompting Russian authorities to tighten security in multiple regions on Saturday. Yevgeny Prigozhin pledged to “go to any lengths” to overthrow the Russian military leadership, whom he accused of being corrupt.
Later, he asserted that his forces had destroyed a Russian military helicopter.
Prigozhin’s forces have led a significant portion of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. They are notoriously brutal and have been accused of committing war crimes.
According to the Russian prosecutor general, Prigozhin is being investigated for “armed rebellion.” Uncertain is the outcome of the investigation, but Prigozhin’s challenge to the Russian military leadership is indicative of the country’s increasing discord.
Here is all the information you require about Yevgeny Prigozhin:
Yevgeny Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch, mercenary commander, and Vladimir Putin’s closest confidant. Prigozhin is sometimes referred to as “Putin’s chef” because he controls restaurants and catering companies that serve the Kremlin. Prigozhin, a former Soviet Union prisoner, now controls a network of influential companies, including the Russian state-backed mercenary firm Wagner Group and three firms accused of interfering with the 2016 and 2018 US elections.
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In 1961, Prigozhin was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). His childhood was difficult, as he spent time in a children’s home and a juvenile detention facility. He worked as a chef after his release and then launched his own restaurant in St. Petersburg. Early in the twenty-first century, he began to secure government contracts to feed schoolchildren and government employees. He also became close with Putin, who was the mayor of St. Petersburg at the time.
It is believed that Prigozhin founded the Wagner Group in 2014, a private military contractor implicated in conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Ukraine. The Wagner Group has been accused of torture and summary executions, among other violations of human rights.
Prigozhin is also suspected of being the mastermind behind the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a troll farm accused of interfering with the 2016 US presidential election. The IRA utilised social media to disseminate Trump-supporting propaganda and foment discord among American voters.
The United States and the European Union have sanctioned Prigozhin for his activities. The US Department of Justice is presently investigating him for possible criminal charges.
Prigozhin is both a controversial and influential figure. He has strong ties to Putin and manages a vast business network. He represents the sinister side of Russian power and poses a threat to global democracy and stability.
Here are some additional details about the life and career of Prigozhin:
- In the Soviet Union, he was convicted of robbery and deception and sentenced to nine years in prison.
- He owns a number of restaurants and catering companies, including Concord Catering, which has received government contracts worth billions of dollars.
- The Wagner Group, a private military contractor embroiled in conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Ukraine, was founded by him.
- He is believed to be the mastermind behind the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a troll farm accused of interfering with the 2016 presidential election in the United States.
- His activities have earned him sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
- The US Department of Justice is presently investigating him for possible criminal charges.
