In a surprising reappearance since his June rebellion, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has surfaced in a low-resolution video seemingly addressing his troops in Belarus. The video, shared on Prigozhin's Telegram channel, shows him welcoming his mercenaries to Belarusian soil and praising their "dignified" fighting in Russia's military operations. He acknowledges their contributions while suggesting a pause in their Ukrainian involvement, citing the current situation on the front lines as "shameful." Instead, Prigozhin indicates a shift towards Africa, stating the group will use their time in Belarus to bolster their capabilities and prepare for new operations on the African continent. He emphasizes the need to wait for the opportune moment to fully demonstrate their strength, implying a future resurgence of the Wagner Group's activities.
This video follows a report that Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Prigozhin and other Wagner commanders just days after the aborted mutiny. Putin reportedly offered various options for the mercenaries' future service, including continuing operations under their current field commander, known as "Gray Hair."
