According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Russian Ministry of Defense is more interested in the disbandment of the Wagner PMC and the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US analysts have drawn attention to statements by so-called "military officers" in the Russian media, who report that the Russian Defense Ministry had been actively insisting on ending Wagner's activities in the Middle East and Africa even before Prigozhin's death. However, according to analysts, representatives of the Ministry of Defense did not seek to directly influence the Wagner people, but rather put pressure on local officials in the regions to cut ties with PMCs.
ISW experts expressed the opinion that the Russian Ministry of Defense is more interested in disbanding Wagner than President Putin.
The analysts noted that they cannot confirm the authenticity of these statements, but if confirmed, it could indicate that Putin does not personally control the process of disbanding Wagner, but has delegated this responsibility to the Ministry of Defense.
However, such statements posted in the communities of Russian "military officers" and opposition activists may also seek to separate Putin from Prigozhin's death and the alleged disbanding of the Wagner PMC.
