2023-06-14 15:33:00
The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner rejects Putin’s request for volunteers to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry
The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, reiterated that his fighters will not sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, after Russian President Vladimir Putin backed a ministry order for mercenary groups fighting in Ukraine. sign contracts.
The Defense Ministry said on Saturday that “volunteer units” and private military groups would have to sign a contract by July 1, which would “give volunteer formations the necessary legal status” and create “unified approaches” to his work.
Putin said on Tuesday during a meeting with pro-Kremlin journalists that contracts with the Ministry of Defense are “the only way to ensure social guarantees”, adding that “it must be done as soon as possible”.
In a statement published by Prigozhin’s press service on Wednesday, he said:
“When we started to participate in this war, nobody said that we would be obliged to conclude agreements with the Ministry of Defense. None of Wagner’s fighters (is) willing to go through the path of shame again. And because of that, nobody will sign contracts”.
“When the homeland was in trouble, when Wagner’s help was needed and we all came to defend it, the president promised us all social guarantees,” said Prigozhin, who has publicly criticized Russian defense leaders.
Wagner’s chief claimed in May that his fighters captured the eastern city of Bakhmut in a protracted, high-profile battle. He also affirmed this Wednesday that Wagner will return to the front in August.
Prigozhin added that he believes that the State Duma, the Russian Parliament and the president will reach a compromise.
This Wednesday, a statement from the Ministry of Defense reported that another 10 commanders of brigades and detachments of volunteer corps fighting in Ukraine came forward and signed the contracts.
“The decision to raise their status, first of all, to provide the same benefits that are provided to all military personnel, was accepted by the personnel of the volunteer formations with great approval,” Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev said in a statement. .
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