Russia demands mercenaries swear loyalty

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【Summary】Putin has ordered all mercenaries, specifically Wagner mercenaries, to pledge allegiance to Russia. The Kremlin denies ordering Prigozihn's assassination. There is no evidence that Wagner mercenaries have started to join the Russian Volunteer Corps, despite an offer for revenge. Wagner mercenaries mourn their leaders and express loyalty towards Prigozhin. Many mercenaries were recruited from prison and owe their second chance in life to Prigozhin.

FutureCar Staff Aug 25, 2023 10:25 AM PT

The Kremlin has denied accusations that it ordered the assassination of Prigozihn, calling it an "absolute lie." Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian dictator and close ally of Putin, also stated that he cannot imagine the Russian president being involved in the assassination.

The Russian Volunteer Corps, a group of Russians fighting for Ukraine, has called for Wagner mercenaries to join their ranks and seek revenge for Prigozhin's death. However, there is no evidence that Wagner mercenaries have joined the Russian Volunteer Corps.

An unnamed Wagner mercenary mentioned that if Prigozhin had been killed after their mutiny in June, they would have resumed their march on Moscow. However, currently, some mercenaries are on holiday, rebuilding their lives, or have already found work at the Ministry of Defense.

Telegram channels linked to Wagner have been filled with tributes to their murdered leaders, rather than calls to rise up against the Kremlin. Photos of makeshift shrines in various cities, covered in flowers and candles, have been shared, along with images of Prigozhin and the other deceased Wagner leaders.

At one memorial, a mourner left a sledgehammer, which is Wagner's informal insignia used for killing and torturing prisoners. In Novosibirsk, a masked Wagner fighter knelt down at a memorial and sobbed, while another man wearing a Wagner baseball cap expressed the feeling of losing a father.

Many of Wagner's mercenaries were recruited from prison and saw Prigozhin as their savior, as he helped them get out of prison and gave them a second chance in life. Prigozhin was known for caring about his fighters and spending time with them on the front line, which boosted morale.

There are already 15 memorials to Prigozhin around Russia, highlighting his high-profile and support. When Wagner soldiers withdrew from Rostov, a city in southern Russia that they briefly captured during their rebellion, ordinary Russians cheered them and shook their hands.