According to retired United States Army General Robert Abrams, Wagner’s private military commander Yevgeny Prigozhin is either dead or in a Russian gulag. This comes after him ostensibly launching a coup against the Russian Federation.
During his time in the military, Abrams served as the commander of United States Forces Korea.
In an interview with ABC News, he argued Prigozhin will be effectively exiled, imprisoned, or taken out by Russian government forces. Abrams firmly believes Prigozhin will not be seen ever again.
Prigozhin was one of Putin’s closest associates. He used his influence to build a potent private military company that carried out high-risk military operations in Syria and Ukraine.
The PMC’s influence grew stronger year after year, which made Prigozhin believe he had enough power to challenge several elements of the Russian government.
On June 23, 2023, Prigozhin launched a mutiny marketed as a “march for justice.”
This was done with the aim of deposing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, from their government positions.
After Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24, 2023, Prigozhin butted heads with Russia’s armed forces over their perceived inability to adequately supply Wagner forces with sufficient arms.
Wagner’s forces apparently took major losses in the battle over the strategically important Eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
At first glance, Prigozhin’s mutiny attempt made surprising progress; his forces seized Rostov and began entering into other Russian regions.
Eventually, Wagner’s forces clashed with the Russian Army, which resulted in six Russian army helicopters and a plane being shot down in these violent exchanges.
In the end, Prigozhin’s mutiny failed and resulted in Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko intervening to negotiate peace between the Russian government and Wagner, prior to Prigozhin’s forces landing in Moscow.
All charges levied against Prigozhin were eventually dropped and he was de facto exiled to neighboring Belarus.