Also used in Africa
Prigozhin reports back with a declaration of war
07/19/2023, 7:10 p.m
After the failed coup attempt at the end of June, Wagner boss Prigozhin reported personally from Belarus for the first time. His armed forces were received “like brothers”. In order to train the Belarusian troops, they will stay there for the time being – but fighting will take place “wherever it is necessary”.
Less than a month after his brief uprising against Moscow’s military leadership, the Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has spoken out in person for the first time with a declaration of war. Accordingly, he spoke to his fighters in Russia’s neighboring country Belarus in the village of Molkino and announced that he would continue to be deployed in Africa, for example.
In a video broadcast by Wagner channels on Telegram, Prigozhin could be seen in the dark and Wagner commander Dmitry Utkin could be heard. “I’m happy to greet you all,” Prigoschin reportedly said in front of a Wagner unit. The 62-year-old expressed his gratitude that Belarus welcomed the troops “not just like heroes, but also like brothers” after the near-putsch on June 24.
In the past few days, the Ministry of Defense in Minsk had also confirmed the arrival of the Wagner fighters, who are now to train the Belarusian armed forces. “We will stay in Belarus for some time,” said Prigozhin. “I am sure that during this time we will make the Belarusian army the second army in the world,” he said. He himself considers Wagner the best, i.e. the first army in the world.
Location at the front a “disgrace”
Once again, Prigozhin praised his mercenaries for their fight in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. He described the current situation there at the front as a “disgrace” for Russia. Wagner can be happy that he no longer has to participate. At the same time, he said that his private army would continue to improve and not only be deployed in Africa.
In another previously circulated language file, Prigozhin admitted for the first time that he had sold some of his assets in Africa in order to settle “obligations”. He did not give details. But he stressed that Wagner would fight wherever it was necessary. A return to the war zone in Ukraine is also possible if the fighters are convinced that they don’t have to be ashamed there.
Loud applause could be heard on the video. Wagner commander Utkin introduced himself in the video as the namesake of the “world-famous” group. He is considered a big fan of the music of the German composer Richard Wagner, which is why the army is called that. “I am this actual Wagner,” he said.