Prigozhin's son becomes head of Wagner, now part of Russia's National Guards

Deceased Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's 25-year-old son, Pavel Prigozhin will head the Kremlin-linked mercenaries group Wagner which will be incorporated into Russia's National Guards (Rosgvardiya). Reportedly, the son of the deceased Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, has taken over the operations of the group.  

“Wagner group officially becomes a division of the Russian Guard,” a Telegram post for the private paramilitary group read. “All employees were asked to conclude an individual contract, otherwise, they will be finalised on the terms of the current one. The entire structure of the Wagner Group, the order of work, the commanders, remain the same,” it added. Furthermore, the base of the PMC Wagner group was announced to be rebuilt from scratch in Russia’s Northern Military District zone. Wagner detachment units have been preparing to accomplish the tasks in the “long-term,” the post added.  

No ‘outstanding criminal record’

While the Wagner employees from the reserve were called up to join the Russian National Guard, the recruitment opened for new ones as well. “The candidate must not have supervision, a written undertaking not to leave the place, a wanted list in the Russian Federation or an outstanding criminal record,” the post stated. While Prigozhin, who became the chief of Wagner, mysteriously died in a plane crash while he was on his way from Africa to Moscow, he is believed to have signed a will before his death that bequeathed all his assets to his son Pavel. 'All my property as well as property that may be acquired by me in the future I bequeath to Pavel Evgenyevich Prigozhin,’ the document shared by pro-Kremlin channels read. Some speculated that Prigozhin’s son would also acquire an estimated £680 million in debts that the Russian defence ministry owes to the altering company of Prigozhin— Concord.

The incorporation of the Wagner into the Russian National Guard implies that the Wagner group will now report directly to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The group said that there were salary ranges for different positions but asserted that those fighters who transferred themselves from the Wagner Group previously to the structures of the Ministry of Defense and the subject volunteer detachments “will not be accepted back!” The message indicates the lingering feud between Wagner and the Russian Defense Ministry. It is reported that some of the Wagner fighters joined Redut, a mercenary group controlled by Russia’s intelligence service while others went to Chinches Akhmat battalion. In September, Pavel said he had acquired the inheritance and its ‘parameters.’