Moscow: Information has come to light that Russian President Vladimir Putin met Andrei Troshev, a close aide of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder and head of the private military company ‘Wagner Group’. In this meeting last week, President Putin ordered Troshev to accept the leadership of ‘Voluntary Units’ in Ukraine, reported the media. Besides, Ukraine has claimed that the ‘Wagner Group’ soldiers are active with the Russian Army in the Bakhmut area.

In August, Prigozhin and ten other people aboard a plane were killed in a plane crash in Tver Region. Western media and analysts had claimed that Russia was behind Prigozhin’s death. At the same time, a Russian analyst had created a sensation by stating that the head of the ‘Wagner Group’ was safe abroad. Various speculations were being made on the issue of what would happen to the ‘Wagner Group’ after Prigozhin’s death.

Against this background, the meeting of President Putin with Commander Troshev, a close aide of Prigozhin and a senior commander of the ‘Wagner Group’, attracts attention. Photos have been released showing Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister was also present in this meeting. Putin has ordered Troshev to accept important responsibilities in Russia’s Ukraine campaign.

On June 24, Russia’s top private military company ‘Wagner Group’ revolted and captured two Russian cities. Besides, claims had surfaced that the ‘Wagner Group‘ team was only 200 kilometres from the Russian capital, Moscow. Russian President Putin termed Prigozhin’s actions treason and warned that strict action would be taken against those who participated in the rebellion. While reacting to this, Prigozhin claimed that their activities were not a rebellion but a ‘March for Justice’.