A year has passed since the death of the leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, Prigozhin, and they have created a memorial in Moscow where friends, family and sympathizers can remember him.
The anniversary of the death of Yevgeny Prigozhinfounder and leader of the paramilitary group Wagner, has been commemorated in Moscow with an emotional meeting on Varvarka Street. Soldiers who fought under his command and sympathizers of his ideas gathered at an improvised memorialremembering the controversial character who shook the Russian political and military scene.
Prigozhin died on August 23 from last year in a mysterious plane crash 100 kilometers from Moscow. His rise to prominence coincided with the Russian military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022, becoming a key and controversial figure in the conflict.
Wagner’s leader was distinguished by his frequent clashes with senior Russian military commanders. He openly accused then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov of incompetence and betrayal, criticizing the lack of support and supplies for his forces in Ukraine.
Tension reached its peak when the Ministry of Defense ordered Wagner to sign contracts with the regular army. This decision triggered the Prigozhin rebellion on June 23-24, 2023, an event that shocked Russia and the world. His mercenaries took control of the southern military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and advanced toward Moscow in what Prigozhin described as a “march of justice.”
An improvised memorial with many signs of support
At the memorial, Yevgeny Dolganov, lead singer of the group Russian Flag, emphasized the importance of supporting the front, stating that It is a “sacred duty” to help prevent the enemy from advancing: “Because if we don’t want the enemy to be here tomorrow, then we must stop him there.”
Dolganov also stressed the importance of keeping Prigozhin’s memory alive and his men: “It has been a year since the death of Wagner’s commander. A year and a half since we created this memorial. No matter how much our enemies wish the memory of our heroes to disappear. No, the memory is alive. And God “Do not want this memorial to be just a popular memorial, but a memorial of state and federal importance. Because the feat of our soldiers should not be forgotten.”
Prigozhin’s death has been the subject of intense speculation. A preliminary US intelligence assessment suggested an intentional explosion on his planeand Western officials have signaled a long list of Putin opponents who have been killed. However, the Kremlin has categorically denied any involvement, calling the allegations an “absolute lie.”
Prigozhin was buried in his hometown, St. Petersburg, in a private ceremony. His legacy, marked by controversy and conflictcontinues to be a topic of debate and reflection in Russia and beyond its borders.
