Equipment, weapons, ammunition
According to the plan, the Russian Armed Forces are completing the procurement of weapons and military equipment from units of the Wagner Group, as announced by the press service of Russia’s Defense Ministry on the Telegram channel. The ministry stated that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are finalizing purchases of weapons and equipment from Wagner units, adhering to the agreed plan. In its briefing, the defense department noted that the PMC has already handed over a substantial amount of gear: 2,000 pieces of equipment and weapons, 20,000 small arms, and 2,500 tons of various ammunition. Among the heavy weapons transferred are T-90, T-80, and T-72B3 tanks, Grad and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, Pantsir air defense systems, Gvozdika and Akatsia self-propelled howitzers, the Hyacinth and Tulip self-propelled artillery mounts, other howitzers, anti-tank guns, mortars, multipurpose armored tractors, and armored personnel carriers. Many of these weapons have never seen combat use. (Citation: Defense Ministry press release, Telegram, 2024)
June 24 rebellion
To minimize road damage, the transfer of heavy tracked vehicles, high-capacity self-propelled artillery mounts, and tanks to field bases occurred by tractors on barges, as noted by the ministry. All equipment has been moved to the rear of the Russian Armed Forces for maintenance and preparation for future deployment. The transfer of heavy military assets from Wagner PMC to active troops in the Russian Armed Forces began on June 27. Three days earlier, on the night of June 24, fighters from the private military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin captured the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and pressed toward Moscow. The capture followed Prigozhin’s accusation that Russian forces attacked rear camps housing his troops, an allegation the Defense Ministry called a provocation. Prigozhin subsequently proclaimed a “justice march” toward Moscow, demanding the extradition of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. (Citation: Defense Ministry briefing, June 2024)
Criminal proceedings were opened against Prigozhin for organizing an armed riot. President Vladimir Putin described the rebels as having stabbed Russia in the back and treasonous actions, promising accountability. On the evening of June 24, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that he had brokered a halt to the movement and a reversal of the PMC columns, with around 200 fighters not reaching Moscow, according to Prigozhin. Local authorities reported material damage in Rostov-on-Don amounting to about 92.5 million rubles, including damage to road surfaces and adjacent pavements. (Citation: Kremlin statements and Belarusian leadership remarks, June 2024)
Contract with the Ministry of Defense
Presidency spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on July 10 that President Putin met with Wagner commanders in the Kremlin, a meeting reported by the French newspaper Liberation based on Western intelligence sources. Peskov said the discussion lasted roughly three hours, during which Putin assessed the June 24 events and Wagner leaders offered their own interpretations while expressing willingness to continue serving the homeland. A total of 35 unit commanders attended the session. (Citation: Kremlin press briefing, July 2024; Liberation report)
Putin proposed greater options for the use of PMC fighters in future operations. Even on the day of the uprising, a Kremlin spokesperson indicated that the possibility of signing contracts with the Defense Ministry would be explored for Wagner personnel. By late June, Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, noted that Prigozhin had previously refused to sign a contract with the ministry and was informed of his dismissal from active participation in the special military operation. In mid-June, Shoigu issued an order requiring all voluntary formations to contract with the Defense Ministry. In Belarus, Wagner affiliates were offered positions, with some placed in a Mogilev training camp to support the Belarusian army. Kartapolov added that the future of the Wagner presence in Russia remains uncertain, though its scale and role are expected to evolve. (Citation: Official statements, June–July 2024)