"It was not a rebellion"

That now, a year later, the former “Wagnerians” about the rebellion of their commander think

A year ago, Russia was shocked by the rebellion of the Wagner PMC. The columns of the mercenaries, capturing the center of Rostov-on-Don and the headquarters of the Russian group with several high-ranking generals and even Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-Buck Evkurov, moved to Moscow. The leader of the private military company Evgeny Prigozhin announced the “march of justice”, the purpose of which was to overthrow, if not the authorities in the country, then at least the entire military elite.

During the campaign, Wagnerians shot down one aircraft - the command post of the Russian Air Force - and six military helicopters. According to various estimates, from 13 to 20 members of their crews died. A criminal case of an armed rebellion was opened. Many former patrons of PMC called on the Landsknechtov to change their minds and stop rebeling. As a result, not reaching the capital about 200 kilometers, the columns of the Vagenrovites unfolded: according to the official version, Evgenia Prigozhin was able to persuade the head of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to abandon the plans of the armed uprising. Exactly two months later, Prigozhin crashed with other heads of PMCs on a private plane, and his former subordinates either signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense or Rosguard, or went as part of other PMCs to Africa, or went home. Novy-Europe managed to talk with several former “Wagnerians” about the events of a year ago. The opinions of our interlocutors about the rebellion of Evgeny Prigozhin are very different. The editors do not agree with their statements, but gives them almost completely. Names and call sign are changed.

Queen in the eye

Arthur "Golden": "A year has passed. Globally, nothing has changed in my life since then. I have been in this business for a long time, there are enough things. I still have “the best work in the world”, but I’m used to the heat.

From afar, much is seen more clearly. The picture as a whole is more understandable. But basically the opinion has not changed, it is a pity only some of the possibilities that we missed. There was a need to change something in the current path situation. Turn the board or stick a queen in the eye of an opponent. The march was one of the options - it is a pity that the goals were not achieved.

Would Prigozhin live if not for the rebellion? It turned out as it turned out. What to guess? The case then went far, and I think, if the “first” was alive, the Tuvinets would be dead.

In any case, if the brothers decided to go to the Ministry of Defense or to Rosguard, then this is a worthy decision.

My thoughts about Shoigu and Gerasimov cannot be printed in the press. Time will put everything in place.

We will definitely defeat the Armed Forces. But the war will never end. After all, war is, among other things, there is also a way of existence, one of many. New young countries wish to liberate foreign oppressors from the yoke. I will tell them: be calm and wait for the Russians! "

There was no rebellion

Vladimir “fighter”, former officer of the Russian Army: “Now I am in a state organization. Since then, the value system has changed somewhat in my life for the best side for me. There was a unique experience that will allow me to move on and survive in difficult situations. There are many close people on whom you can rely.

The events of 2022–2023 in the LPR showed the exceptional efficiency of the company (PMC) in an extremely difficult direction in the conditions of the use of a limited contingent of forces and frequent difficulties in providing material means of conducting military operations. Was it right that Russia began the use of power actions to uphold its geopolitical interests? Yes, undoubtedly, since this would happen sooner or later on the initiative of our foreign partners. The question is on which side would be an advantage in this case. Now we have it.

There was never any mistake during the “march of justice”. There was no rebellion. All events did not set a goal to seize or change power. No need to replace concepts. The event showed the unconditional support of the majority of the Russian civil population of the company, confidence in its employees and helped identify individual officials in the management system of the Moscow Region, whose interests were contrary to state policy regarding the maintenance and strengthening of the defense capabilities of our state. Some tragic incidents during the event, unfortunately, confirmed the above.

The collapse of the aircraft Evgeny Prigozhin is unlikely to be the consequence of the march, rather it was the result of accumulated contradictions between individual structures. Prigozhin was too effective in its field of interests.

Some of the fighters went to the Russian Guard, and part to the Ministry of Defense. With all the apparent wealth of the choice of another sane alternative, there is simply no one now. It is important that a person went where, but who he remained or became.

Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov are too high spheres so that I can draw some conclusions or form a personal attitude. But what prevented me from restoring all these years, I do not quite understand.

The victory will be behind us. For the life of future generations of Russia. The fighting will last a very long time with moderate losses, or the nuclear Armageddon will close this issue for many years of restoration of all involved and not very. ”

Might

Alexander "Perm": “In principle, nothing has changed in my life. The orders are the same, the money is the same. There is no sense in all this either. Now I am serving in the TsA.

And what, in fact, has changed in a year? Then and now I am sure that if Prigozhin entered Moscow, then absolutely everyone would have swept him! But he was not a politician or a military man, but a stupid “lake” (close to members of the Lake Cooperative), well, or the “near -grain” businessman.

At that time, each of us understood that sooner than it was too late, but they would cover us. It was not necessary to arrange competitions on throwing grenades, it was enough to give a couple of orders and transfer the “backbone” from Ukraine. Actually, they did so, dividing us in Africa, Belarus and “Chechnya” (meaning the parts of the Rosguard “Akhmat”).

And about the error: we shouted into a voice about the lack of shells not so that there were such a huge number of them as they are now used, burning everything and everything, destroying in ashes. The scream was not literal, we demanded the planting of “Visloux stumps”, including the current chapter of the Council of People's Commissars, and the return to the normal wrap (management) of war under military rules and laws that allow the liberation of cities and regions, and not destroy a hundred square meters per day of all living things for decades, continuing this infinite aimless war as there are residents in our countries. Well, or to the self -destruction of one of the countries.

Would Prigozhin live if not for the rebellion? I think yes. But he no longer wanted to return to the business for the food of Moscow schoolchildren.

Colleagues went to the army or Rosguard. And what's the strange thing? To condemn the mercenary because he kills, fulfilling the order, under different signs? We had an idea in 2023 to change the management system, this chance was. Now he is no longer there, and each for himself.

Belousov is the same military as I am a pilot of the attack aircraft. What did this dick do in his life, what did he create, where did he distinguish? Has the plant built a financial law? He did not even manage to steal, sitting at such posts, while everything, absolutely everything around him by the trillions drew the budget. It is kept because of this at the posts that he is an account of “what to deign”.

The war will end when one of our countries is not. And not at all because of hostilities. The leaders themselves will do everything because of the bite for power. ”

Useless commanders

The novel “Fourth”: “The march is an obvious mistake. Because the supreme never makes decisions under pressure. Evgeny Prigozhin played into politics, did not understand his real weight in the system. If there was no trip to Moscow, he, of course, would be alive. And the PMC would command. Nothing has changed, we serve in different places, in different departments: the Ministry of Defense, the Russian Guard. Well, about faith in victory ... If there is no betrayal, the war will end with our unconditional victory. We are Russians - God with us and the greatest experience of the war from the existing large countries today. ”

Boris "Start": "I do not serve. I work as a car mechanic. There was time to think for a year. We almost gave the start of the Civil War. In this war we could win, and it was only a price of price. Very expensive price. It was a swing: intoxication from what we do, then longing from what we did not. Then he let go, and it did not care.

I don’t know, I would have survived Prigozhin if the march would not happen. But I don’t even know whether he actually died or not.

Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov had time and resources were to prepare the army for a large war. There was an example of how to do this - our example. The army was not ready. So, as commanders, they were useless.

I would like the war to end with our victory. But the victory is very far away. "

The march is an adventure

Andrei “Raven”, a former businessman, then a prisoner: “I am a grenade launcher in the calculation of the AGS-17“ Flame ”. A year ago was in Rostov-on-Don. But I can tell details on the prison. We gave all subscriptions about non -disclosure.

Now I serve in the Redut PMC under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The salary is the same as in Vagnere: more than 300 thousand per month for a circle is obtained with allowances. During the year of experienced fighters, they dismantled the current units. Those who were completely sustained under the command of former Opponents Prigozhin left for hot countries. But the majority went to the army and Rosguard. They crossed entire units - platoons, even companies. As a rule, the commander decided, and his subordinates supported him. The hopes that one of the commanders will be able to save the entire PMC, obviously, were empty initially. The rebellion began with the demand of Shoigu to sign contracts with the Moscow Region. This is exactly what Prigozhin himself tried to avoid, but also many “musicians” (self -name of the Wagnerians). As a result, for many, the service in the Russian Guard was a decision. Some even went to the Akhmat-to the most worst enemies of the Orchestra (one of the self-wages of the mercenaries of the PMC “Wagner”). People can be understood. They do not know anything else. Just fight for money.

The “march of justice” was the obvious adventure of the “first”. Evgeny Prigozhin hoped that under his pressure, Putin would be frightened and gave him to the scolding of Shoigu. Not rolled. At the same time, Prigozhin was originally determined. He gave the go -ahead for shooting at air targets. He ordered the columns going to Moscow to break through any ambushes or defense lines. However, when it became clear that he could not get into the capital without a serious battle, Prigozhin was scared and let himself persuade the march. Despite the fact that we were already supported by the DShRG “Rusich” and the “Storm-Z” detachments.

But on the approaches to Moscow, quite significant forces have already been built, which was impossible to attack directly in the movement. Those several tanks that brought the columns on tractors at the forefront, could not quickly turn into combat offensive orders. The commanders did not have a plan for the assault on the city. There are no specific tasks. And although several “Wagnerists” were “naked” for openly opposed a campaign in Moscow, many would really refuse to fight the Russian army. Moreover, the shelling of the PMC camp, which became the reason for the uprising, was an obvious fiction.

I think that Prigozhin could perfectly continue their activities away from Russia and openly conflicting military leaders with him. In Africa, PMCs had a lot of interests. Although now the positions of the Russians on this continent have been very shaken. And so Prigozhin, obviously, was “naked” according to his own rules. He himself would have done the same with any of his commanders if they raised the rebellion. It is a pity for Dmitry Utkin and everyone who was still on board. But the power of such threats cannot leave such threats unpunished. Therefore, they executed and forgot. Interestingly, even the investigations were not really carried out.

Gerasimov and Shoigu were the personal enemies of Yevgeny Prigozhin. We were told that they deliberately did not give out ammunition. But we saw that the shells in the same way are not enough for regular parts. The real reason for the conflict was an attempt to take away the entire power resource in Russia from the “first”. At first Putin liked that he had two counterweights. But then Prigozhin suffered, and he became dangerous. As a symbol. No wonder Khodorkovsky called for supporting Prigozhin's performance. The fate of the head of the PMC was decided.

I personally do not see any problems in the service of the army. We are fighting with the same goals - to break the enemy. I am glad that Shoigu was finally removed. Under him, the army was plundered and “sawed” the pet. No one thought that he would have to fight for real. And when the conflict began, it became clear that there were few combat units. The level of “Wagner” only a few brigades for all the armed forces could be recruited. Gerashchenko is generally a strategist of hybrid wars. In modern large -scale conflicts, he was not going to participate. There is no strategic planning. Now the entire attack is being built on massive airlines with planning bombs. What will happen when airplanes are transferred to Ukraine is unknown. Perhaps they will be able to knock down our bombers. But no one is considering this threat, as I understand it.

The war will end with negotiations. Russia shakes the Donbass and a piece of territory in the fact of the Donbass. How much can capture. The fighting will stop there. We will be allowed to go home. But I do not know where the former mercenaries decide to go to go, I don’t know. Well, if everyone has enough space in Africa.