Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Russian mercenary chief and founder of Wagner Group, whose forces are marching towards Moscow

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a previously low-profile businessman who enjoyed the patronage of President Vladimir Putin, came into the international spotlight during Russia's war in Ukraine. Leading a mercenary force, he portrays himself as fighting the toughest battles and has now taken on the perilous role of openly rebelling against the country's military leadership. As Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened to reach Moscow from Rostov-on-Don and claimed to have 25,000 armed people under his command, the question being asked is- Who is he?

Billionaire

Prigozhin, a billionaire with close ties to the Kremlin, has a longstanding feud with the Russian military command. He leads a private army comprised of thousands of former prisoners recruited from Russian jails, and they have engaged in intense combat during the 16-month Ukraine war, including the protracted battle for the city of Bakhmut.

Accusing the top brass of the regular army of incompetence and withholding ammunition from his fighters, Prigozhin has openly criticized the military leadership for months. Recently, he defied orders to place his troops under the command of the Defense Ministry, launching what appears to be a mutiny after alleging that the military killed many of his fighters in an airstrike (which the Defense Ministry denies).

A native of Putin’s hometown of St Petersburg, Yevgeny Prigozhin has gained significant visibility through aggressive public relations, his presence near the front lines, and his recruitment of Russian prisoners to fight for his mercenary group, known as Wagner. These mercenaries have become a major force in the war in Ukraine, fighting alongside the Russian army against Ukrainian forces.

Putin's Chef

In addition to his military involvement, Prigozhin gained notoriety for his catering contracts with the Kremlin through his company, Concord. He was nicnamed "Putin's Chef". He expanded his business operations, providing meals at public schools in Moscow and offering catering and utility services to the Russian military.

In the later years of the Soviet Union, Yevgeny Prigozhin spent a considerable period behind bars, confessing to a decade-long imprisonment without disclosing the specific reasons. Following his release in the 1980s, Prigozhin embarked on a humble journey, initially selling hotdogs in his local community. Over time, he gradually accumulated a share in a series of supermarkets, ultimately establishing his own restaurant and catering business.

Prigozhin's restaurant quickly garnered acclaim for its exceptional cuisine and became a favored destination for influential individuals, including the likes of then deputy mayor Vladimir Putin. During his initial tenure as Russia's leader, Putin even took former French President Jacques Chirac to dine at one of Prigozhin's establishments.

Founder of Wagner Group

He admitted in September of a certain year that he had founded the Wagner Group, a private military organization, in 2014, the same year Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The Wagner Group, supported by the Kremlin, has played a significant role in advancing Russian influence in various global conflict zones, such as Libya, Syria, the Central African Republic, Mali, and assisting Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine.

While Prigozhin faced allegations and sanctions related to his alleged U.S. election interference in 2016 and leadership of the Wagner Group, reports about his influence on Putin have varied, with some suggesting a growing influence, but analysts caution against overestimating his actual sway over the Russian president.

U.S. Elections Interference

Prigozhin, along with several Russian individuals and three Russian companies, faced charges in the United States for orchestrating a covert social media campaign aimed at sowing discord in the lead-up to Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election. These indictments were part of the investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the election. The U.S. Treasury Department has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Prigozhin and his associates, citing their alleged involvement in election interference and Prigozhin's leadership of the Wagner Group.

There have been occasional media reports speculating about Prigozhin's growing influence over Putin and his aspirations for a prominent political role. However, analysts have cautioned against overestimating his actual sway with the Russian President.

In the year 2017, Alexei Navalny, an opposition figure known for his anti-corruption stance, made allegations against Prigozhin's enterprises, claiming that they had violated antitrust regulations by participating in bidding processes for Defense Ministry contracts worth approximately $387 million.

FAQs:

Q1:Who is called Putin’s Chef and why?
Yevgeny Prigozhin was called Putin’s Chef after he got the contract of supplying food to the Kremlin.

Q2:Why Yevgeny Prigozhin is in the news now?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Yevgeny Prigozhin of treason after he threatened to march to Moscow from Rostov-on-Don.