Russia has won on the battlefield in Ukraine, but it has suffered a crisis at home. On the evening of the 23rd, Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, Russia's largest mercenary organization, suddenly released a paragraph that shocked the world, in which he exposed the true purpose of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, accusing Russia of sacrificing the lives of countless Russians for the benefit of "a certain family and oligarchs".
Prigozhin also announced that the Wagner Group has taken control of the city of Rostov in southern Russia and will march on Moscow to overthrow Putin's regime. He called on the Russian people to rise up and revolt and stop being deceived by Putin. He also threatened that anyone who stood in their way would be treated as an enemy and would not hesitate to use force.
As soon as this ** was released, it immediately caused an uproar. Russia reacted quickly, and Putin delivered a national address on the afternoon of the 24th, in which he severely condemned Prigozhin as a "traitor" and his actions as an "armed rebellion", and Russia will resolutely defend its sovereignty and security. Putin also ordered that all efforts be made to quell the rebellion, arrest Prigozhin, and put him on criminal trial.
This sudden civil unrest left the outside world confused and shocked. Who is Prigozhin?Why did he rebel?What is his background and purpose?How much power and influence does he have?Will he succeed in overthrowing Putin?These questions are worthy of our in-depth understanding.
01 Prigozhin's identity can be summed up in three words: businessman, politician and mercenary.
Prigozhin was born in 1961, and his childhood was not happy. His father died young, his mother was unable to discipline him, and he was socially involved from an early age, receiving a suspended sentence for robbery at the age of 16 and 12 years for fraud at the age of 18. He spent the last years of the Soviet Union in prison and got to know a lot of *** and political figures.
After his release from prison in 1990, Prigozhin began to develop in the restaurant industry, opening a high-end restaurant in St. Petersburg, which quickly attracted many high-class customers, including Putin, then deputy mayor of St. Petersburg. Prigozhin and Putin have become good friends, and they have also used Putin's relationship to expand their business territory. He founded Concord Management Consulting, which ventured into the fields of energy, security, and the Internet, and made huge profits.
Prigozhin is not only a successful businessman, but also a stealthy politician. He was accused by the United States of being behind the United States, and he also admitted his involvement and mocked American democracy. He is also considered a close confidant and aide of Putin, solving some difficult problems for Putin.
Prigozhin is best known for the Wagner Group, an international mercenary organization with more than 25,000 members, all of whom are highly trained elites. The Wagner Group is involved in fighting in Syria, Libya, Central Africa, etc., fighting for the interests of Russia. The Wagner Group has close ties to Russia's security apparatus and special forces and is seen as Putin's private army.
02 Why did Prigozhin rebel?This is a complex issue that can involve many factors.
On the one hand, Prigozhin may be dissatisfied with Putin's policies, believing that Putin is sacrificing the interests of Russians for the selfish interests of some families and oligarchs. Prigozhin revealed the truth about Russia's military presence in Ukraine, saying that Russia is not here to protect Russians in eastern Ukraine, but for the oil and gas interests of a certain family, as well as the financial interests of certain oligarchs. He said that Russia **deceived the Russians and made them die for these benefits, but also concealed the truth of the Russian army and the Wagner Group**. He said that he could no longer tolerate such lies and betrayals, and that he wanted to tell the truth for the Russian people and let them know who their enemies were.
On the other hand, Prigozhin may be dissatisfied with Putin's arrangement, believing that Putin does not value his contribution and wants to weaken his power. Prigozhin revealed Putin's arrangement in **, saying that Putin wants him to be a governor and to co-opt the Wagner Group and make them part of the Russian army. He said that he did not accept such an arrangement, that he felt that it was an insult and a betrayal to him, that he was unwilling to give up his freedom and power, that he wanted to protect his comrades and mercenaries. He said that he is not afraid of Putin, he has enough people and guns, and he wants to challenge Putin and let him **.
On the other hand, Prigozhin may have been influenced and supported by external forces and saw this as an opportunity to change Russia. Prigozhin appealed to the Russian people in **, he said that he wants to fight Putin's ** and corruption, and he wants to give the Russian people a better life and a better future. He said that he has the support and help of foreign friends who will provide everything he needs. He said he believed his cause was just and that he would succeed.
03 Can Prigozhin's rebellion succeed?This is a difficult question to answer and may depend on a lot of factors.
On the one hand, Prigozhin's rebellion has certain advantages. He has a strong group of mercenaries, they are all experienced warriors, they have advanced ** and equipment, they have strong loyalty and faith. He also has the backing of outside powers, who may provide him with funds, intelligence, and supplies. He also has some sympathy and support from the Russian people, who may be unhappy with Putin's policies or interested in Mr. Prigozhin's ideals.
On the other hand, Prigozhin's rebellion is also facing great difficulties. His enemy is Putin, Putin is a strong leader, he has a strong will and determination, he has broad support and prestige, he has a large army and security apparatus, he has a strong state apparatus and **. Putin will not let Prigozhin go easily, he will go all out to suppress the rebellion, and he will use all means, including assassinations, arrests and propaganda. Putin also has the backing of some outside forces who may be unhappy with Prigozhin's rebellion or interested in Putin's stability.
To sum up, Prigozhin's rebellion is a risky act, and he may have some opportunities, but also a lot of risks. Whether he succeeds or not depends on his strategy and luck, as well as Putin's reaction and response. This civil strife may bring some changes to Russia, and it may also have some impact on the world.