The Russian president suggested that Andrei Troshev take over as the new commander of the Wagner Group, replacing Yevgeny Yeriguzhin. Yeriguzhin had previously led a short-lived rebellion against the Russian military and was later sent into exile in Belarus, a country allied with Moscow.
Just five days after the failed rebellion, Putin held a meeting with Yerigozhin, the commanders of Wagner Group, and informed them that they could continue their fighting under the leadership of their direct commander, known as "Sedoi" or "gray-haired," as well as Andrei Troshev. Putin referred to Troshev as the "true commander of Wagner forever. "
In response to the appointment, Putin stated that "many of them nodded their heads" when he made the announcement. It is worth noting that Andrei Troshev, born in April 1953 in Leningrad, which was part of the former Soviet Union, is a retired Russian colonel and one of the founders and executive directors of the Wagner Group.
Troshev had a long-standing collaboration with the resistance forces in Deir Ez-Zor province. During one of the American airstrikes, which targeted Troshev, approximately 105 members of the Wagner Group lost their lives. However, Troshev himself met a peculiar fate and died under mysterious circumstances.
There was a proposal to carry out a retaliatory attack in response to the airstrike, but the Russians themselves opposed it initially. However, in a later meeting, Putin expressed regret for not authorizing the retaliatory attack. Troshev's extensive experience in intelligence and military, along with his role as one of the founders of the Wagner Group, has instilled fear in the Western countries.
Apart from his involvement in the Syrian conflict, Troshev has served as an intelligence and operations officer in Afghanistan for several years. He also possesses significant experience from the Chechen war. Unlike Prigogine, Troshev is regarded as a seasoned and skilled military professional. Many people believed that Troshev was the true operational and field commander of the Wagner Group, while Prigozhin played more of a managerial role in this private army. With Troshev's appointment, it appears likely that the Wagner Group will once again be involved in the conflict in Ukraine, but this time with better organization and potentially increased support. Whether the group will enter Belarus from Russian territory is a question that remains to be seen and requires patience to find out.
News ID : 2238