Putin converses with Andrei Troshev, a former Wagner commander

 Putin converses with Andrei Troshev, a former Wagner commander

The Kremlin claims that one of the most senior ex-commanders of the Wagner mercenary group, who now works for the defense ministry, has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former head of Wagner, was assisted by Andrei Troshev before he passed away in an airplane accident in August.

Two months had passed since the short invasion of Moscow by Wagner soldiers.

The Kremlin reported that President Putin requested Mr. Troshev to supervise volunteer fighting units in Ukraine.

In response to Mr. Troshev, the president stated he may "volunteer units that can perform various combat tasks, especially, of course, in the zone of a special military operation." He specifically mentioned Ukraine in this statement.

In order for the combat effort to proceed in the finest and most effective way possible, Mr. Putin continued, "You are aware of the issues that need to be resolved in advance."

Mr. Troshev "now works in the defense ministry," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to the RIA news agency.

Following Wagner's mutiny in June, Mr. Putin is attempting to assert his leadership once again as a result of the meeting.

In less than a day, Prigozhin organized an uprising, dispatching troops to the southern city of Rostov before moving on to Moscow and then fleeing. It was Mr. Putin's greatest authority challenge in twenty years.

All Wagner personnel as well as those of other Russian private defense contractors were urged by the president to swear fealty to the Russian government last month.

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Sedoi, Mr. Troshev's pseudonym, means "the one with grey hair" and is used to identify him. He served in Russia's conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya and is regarded as a distinguished soldier.

In 2015 and 2016, as the Wagner commander, he supported the Syrian government forces, for which he received the Hero of Russia Award.

On August 23, an accident outside of Moscow claimed the lives of Prigozhin and nine other people.

After the failed insurrection, many people referred to the Wagner leader as "dead man walking."

Any participation has been refuted by the Kremlin.