Wagner mercenaries were on Thursday reported to be trying to head back into Russia after threatening retaliation over the suspected killing of their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash on the orders of Vladimir Putin. “The convoys are likely heading towards the border with Russia,” the centre said. “There’s a lot talk right now about what the Wagner Group will do,” he said.
Nah, they were even more gung-ho about the invasion than regular Russians.
My question is who is going to pick up the tab for these mercs? I can’t see Putin doing it himself, as he wouldn’t want to set precedent… but they are spoiled. I would assume it will be bad for Russia if they don’t keep the money flowing.
CIA: hold my beer
The best-trained ones might get onto the Russian military payroll if the Kremlin is smart and wants to retain some of its most battle-hardened troops.
The Kremlin has been paying for Wagner from the beginning. Wagner has always belonged to Putin. It’s mercenary status has just been a mechanism of plausible deniability.