By: Ethan Shen

Since the war in Ukraine started, there have been two teams on Russia’s side. The traditional military, and the Wagner group. The Wagner group are hired mercenaries who are governed by the leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

There has long been competition between the traditional military and the Wagner group. Mr. Prigozhin has spoken out against the handling of the war ever since the war started. The two groups even competed against each other in recruiting. Multiple Wagner and traditional military recruiting billboards have messages that seem to be directed at the other group.

Then, when all seemed well, Wagner began pulling its troops out of Ukraine and into Russia. After Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu had ordered a missile attack on Wagner bases and killing hundreds of mercenaries. Prigozhin has decided to begin what he calls a “march of justice” into Moscow. claiming that Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu had ordered a missile attack on Wagner bases and killing hundreds of mercenaries. During the coup attempt, Wagner told the media that it apparently shot down six helicopters and a plane during the group’s advance toward Moscow.

Now, Wagner has apparently stopped its advance into Russia as Putin offered them a deal: they would be forgiven, and Shoigu and Gerasimov fired. It is unclear whether this may be a sign of further tensions between Putin and Prigozhin, or whether or not this will affect the war effort. At the end of the day, this shows that there is tension inside the Russian military as well.