The Rise of Prigozhin: Russians Sing and Praise the Power of ‘Wagner

Yevgeny Prigozhin became a star in Russia and was praised for “Wagner’s power”. This news was met with particular drama in Russia, as the head of force survived a rebellion. A Russian military expert also sees Prigozhin as a political winner after surviving the rebellion.

Yevgeny Prigozhin is a Russian businessman who has accumulated wealth, influence, and international intrigue through his relationship with Vladimir Putin. He is the founder of the Wagner Group, a private military company that has fought in eastern Ukraine and for Russian-backed causes. Prigozhin built Wagner into a powerful force over years of interventions across Africa, the Middle East, and more recently Ukraine. He became a star in Russia after surviving a rebellion and was praised for “Wagner’s power.