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Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, has stated that his mercenary force lacks the necessary personnel to overthrow the Kremlin.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the leader of the Wagner mercenary group in Russia has refuted accusations that his organization has the capability to orchestrate a military coup against the Kremlin.

Following a claim by former Russian military commander Igor Girkin that the Wagner mercenary force aimed to topple the Kremlin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the group, reportedly argued that they lacked the manpower to accomplish such a feat, as reported by the US-based think tank.

Prigozhin, along with the Wagner group he established, has become infamous for their involvement in Ukraine, particularly during the intense conflict in Bakhmut.

The vocal leader of the mercenary group has openly voiced criticism towards the Russian military and the Kremlin for their campaign, leading some to speculate that he has political ambitions in mind.

https://twitter.com/euronews/status/1648190574258692098

In an interview with Euronews in April, two experts dismissed the possibility of Yevgeny Prigozhin becoming the president, with Russian politics analyst Mark Galeotti cautioning against such discussions, deeming them “dangerous.” Galeotti also mentioned that Prigozhin’s political adversaries, particularly within the military establishment, are pleased to promote these notions in order to create a divide between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Prigozhin stated on Monday that there are various types of coups in the world, citing the example of the “chaotic” coup in Sudan, which he believed to be time-consuming and resulting in significant conflicts. He argued that Wagner, which the US claimed had suffered over 30,000 casualties in Ukraine in February, does not possess a large enough army to carry out a coup. Furthermore, Prigozhin emphasized the positive relations between Wagner and Putin.

Mark Beissinger, a Politics Professor at Princeton University, previously remarked to Euronews that Prigozhin is “useful” to Putin because he provides services during the war that the military cannot offer.

Everyone is talking about Wagner. But who are Russia's other mercenaries? https://t.co/IMT046kCeV

— euronews (@euronews) May 16, 2023

In his comments on Monday, Prigozhin indirectly suggested that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who has access to the Russian Special Forces, could potentially orchestrate a coup.

He further emphasized that while some individuals in Russia anticipate a revolution, Wagner’s stance is focused on advocating for reforms within the political system.

On Sunday, the 61-year-old alleged that Kremlin officials had imposed a ban on reporting about him through state media, accusing them of downplaying his significant role in the battle for Bakhmut.

He expressed, “Wagner is not a piece of slippery soap which the bureaucrats have got used to shoving all over the place. Wagner is an awl, a stiletto that you cannot hide.”

Source: with Agencies