Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin warns Russia of revolution

Wagner mercenaries chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has warned that the Kremlin’s catastrophic war in Ukraine could set off a violent revolution in Russia, like in 1917.

The head of Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, addresses the Russian army's top brass standing in front of what were said to be bodies of fallen Wagner fighters at an undisclosed location. Picture: the Telegram account of the press service of Concord, a company linked to Wagner, via AFP

The head of the Wagner mercenary group has warned that the Kremlin’s catastrophic war in Ukraine could set off a violent revolution in Russia.

Yevgeny Prigozhin said public anger over the “fat, carefree” lives enjoyed by children of the Russian elite during wartime could lead to their “villas” being stormed by ordinary people armed with “pitchforks”.

“Everything might end as in 1917, with a revolution: when first the soldiers rise up, and then their loved ones,” Mr Prigozhin told a pro-war blogger, referring to the uprising against Nicholas II that eventually swept Lenin into power.

In an obscenity-strewn tirade, the head of the notorious Wagner Group criticised officials such as Sergei Shoigu, the Defence Minister, for protecting their relatives from serving in Ukraine.

“The children of the elite smear themselves with creams and show off on the internet while ordinary people’s children come home in zinc [coffins], torn to pieces,” he said. “I recommend that the elite of the Russian Federation gathers up, bitch, its youth and send them to war,” he said.

Mr Prigozhin has previously threatened to pressgang Alexey Stolyarov, a 33-year-old fitness blogger who is Mr Shoigu’s son-in-law, into Wagner’s ranks. Mr Stolyarov is married to Ksenia Shoigu, the minister’s daughter.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes President Vladimir Putin during the Victory Day military parade on May 9. Picture: Sputnik/ AFP

“How can Shoigu’s son-in-law go to the United Arab Emirates and shake his bum around?” Mr Prigozhin said. He accused Mr Shoigu’s daughter of spending illicit funds on leading a life of luxury. Mr Shoigu has not commented.

A former petty criminal, Mr Prigozhin has no official role in the government or military. However, since President Vladimir Putin ordered tanks into Ukraine last year he has emerged as one of Russia’s most recognisable wartime figures.

He has made a series of attacks on defence chiefs, including a recent rant recorded against a backdrop of dozens of dead Wagner fighters he claimed had been killed because of a lack of ammunition.

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In his latest outburst, Mr Prigozhin said the Kremlin’s goal of “demilitarising” Ukraine had failed.

“If at the beginning of the special operation they had around 500 tanks, now they have 5,000 of them. If back then, 20,000 [Ukrainian] soldiers fought skilfully, now there are 400,000. How did we demilitarise it?” he said. “We have militarised it.”

Urging the Kremlin to introduce martial law at home, he warned: “We are in such a condition that we could f***ing lose Russia.”

Last week three Wagner fighters threatened Viktor Sobolev, a high-ranking Russian MP who had warned Russian soldiers against joining the “illegal” mercenary group.

The masked mercenaries told Mr Sobolev in an online video that if Russia lost the war, they would “come to Red Square and f*** you and people like you in the arse”.

Analysts said it was unlikely the video would have been released without Mr Prigozhin’s approval. Although private military companies are banned under Russian law, Wagner has been praised by the Kremlin and state media.

A video grab taken from a handout footage posted on May 20 on the Telegram account of the press service of Concord shows Yevgeny Prigozhin holding a Russian national flag in front of his soldiers in Bakhmut. Picture: via AFP

No action has been taken against Mr Prigozhin, leading to speculation that Mr Putin views his verbal assaults against military chiefs as useful. Some analysts believe he is backed by powerful figures in the Kremlin amid a struggle for influence.

But with presidential elections due next year, it is unclear how long the Kremlin can allow Mr Prigozhin to continue his attacks. “Unless Putin does something it will show his weakness,” a Western diplomat told Reuters.

Ilya Ponomarev, a former Russian opposition MP who is now a Ukrainian citizen, said Mr Prigozhin’s comments may have been aimed at forcing the Kremlin to remove Wagner from the battlefield, letting Mr Prigozhin concentrate on the group’s lucrative interests in Africa.

The Times