The growing animosity between the Russian military leadership and the private military company is a sign of the deepening divisions within the Russian military establishment. It highlights the disillusionment among the Russian public with the country’s military adventure in Ukraine. And the unhappiness is increasing with the death of a generation of Russian soldiers.
The Kremlin’s reliance on private military companies like Wagner to fight its wars is a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, it allows the Russian military to pursue its strategic objectives without the public scrutiny and accountability that comes with using regular troops. On the other hand, it exposes the Kremlin to the risk of losing control of its private military through the efforts of the founder of the Wagner Group.
The war in Ukraine is far from over, and the deepening rift between the Russian military leadership and private military companies like Wagner will likely make the situation even more unpredictable and dangerous.
