Tensions on the roof: BBC Says Russia Moving Towards Direct Control of Wagner Group

Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said on Saturday that <x0) voluntary information” would be required to sign direct contracts with the defence ministry.

This vaguely written statement is believed to target the Wagner group.

But in a furious statement issued today, Sunday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Pigozin said his forces would boycott contracts.

The private military group has played a major role in the war in Ukraine, fighting on the side of Russian forces.

But Prigozyni, who is said to have political ambitions of his own, is involved in a public clash with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and with military chief Valery Gerasimov for months.

He has repeatedly accused the double of lack of skill and of deliberately not supplying the units of Wagner that were fighting in Ukraine.

“Wagner won't sign any contracts with the Shoig,”

“The shoig can also manage military formations properly,” he said.

He insisted that his group was well integrated with the Russian Army, but said its efficiency would be damaged if it was required to report to the defence minister.

Although Saturday's announcement does not directly refer to Wagner or any other paramilitary group, Russian media implied that the new contracts constituted a movement to bring Pigozin and his forces under control.

Tensions between the Wagner group and the Russian Army have increased in recent weeks.

Last week the group kidnapped Commander Roman Venavit, charging that he had opened fire on a Wagner vehicle near Bakhmut.

This commander was later released, but a video was published by Russian bloggers, where he accused Wagner of spreading anarchy.