According to a public survey conducted by Russian Field, public sentiment toward Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Private Military Company, shifted noticeably after the sequence of events that culminated in the rebellion attempt. The survey found that 69% of participants doubted that private militaries could realistically topple the government, and a clear majority appeared satisfied with how the confrontation was resolved. These results reveal a rapid change in mood as the political crisis unfolded and highlight a cautious public stance toward nonstate armed groups during moments of national disruption.
In the wake of the June 23–24 episode, Prigozhin’s standing deteriorated markedly. Before these days, 55% of respondents had a favorable view of Prigozhin’s role within the broader campaign, but this share dropped to 29% in the days that followed. Dissatisfaction rose from 14% to 39% in the same period. The methodology relied on telephone interviews with a representative cross-section of adults conducted in June, capturing immediate reactions to unfolding events and the initial framing of the dispute by media outlets and officials.
Looking back to the start of 2023 up to June, support for Prigozhin during the campaign rose from 41% to 55%, signaling a period of growing visibility and influence. Meanwhile, the proportion of people unaware of his activities fell from 31% to 17%, suggesting rising public familiarity. Notably, strongest support came from men aged 45–59 who learned about the campaign through Telegram channels and perceived the operation as having achieved its aims. Those who viewed the broader campaign as a failure and who favored peace talks tended to rate Prigozhin less favorably, underscoring how views split along information channels and perceived outcomes.
After the revolt, attitudes shifted dramatically. Only 29% of respondents expressed a favorable view of Prigozhin, while 39% held a negative view, with 7% unsure and 25% indicating uncertainty in their response. Media sources appeared to influence opinions; television, cited as a primary information source by some, correlated with more negative perceptions, as 52% who relied on TV held unfavorable views versus 20% with positive opinions. Telegram users, who still showed relatively higher levels of support (32% positive, 40% negative), and online news readers displayed mixed, more evenly balanced attitudes depending on the platform and the framing of events.
Public sentiment showed that about 42% believed Russian society did not back Prigozhin’s actions during the uprising, while 21% disagreed, 14% were indifferent, and 22% found it difficult to answer. These figures reflect a nationwide ambivalence shaped by the dramatic sequence of events, official responses, and the evolving narrative about loyalty, legitimacy, and the role of private military actors in national security matters.
On the evening of June 23, Prigozhin asserted that Russian Defense Ministry forces had attacked the rear camps of the Wagner group and reported that his fighters were advancing toward Moscow on a so‑called march for justice. Official accusations against the ministry were met with denial, and the Prosecutor General’s Office eventually opened legal action alleging organization of an armed riot. The sequence demonstrated how competing accounts and official denials can complicate public understanding amid a convergence of military, political, and judicial actions [Source: Russian Field].
The morning of June 24 brought further developments as President Vladimir Putin authorized restraint on the Wagner leadership’s movements, Wagner facilities in Rostov were placed under heightened security, and a tense standoff persisted. The president’s statements described Prigozhin’s actions as betrayal and warned about consequences, while the State Duma, the Federation Council, and regional authorities mobilized to stabilize the situation. In parallel, Chechen forces were deployed to Rostov to reinforce government lines, illustrating how regional actors became part of the national response during a moment of internal crisis [Source: Russian Field].
Later that day, Belarusian officials released a briefing stating that negotiations were underway. A meeting between Alexander Lukashenko and Prigozhin yielded an outcome that both sides considered acceptable, promising security guarantees for Wagner fighters and a de-escalation of the tense stand-off. Prigozhin maintained that he would reverse his previous positions and order his columns back to field camps, signaling a possible winding down of the crisis from a military to a political resolution. These events underscore the delicate balance leaders must strike when private actors challenge state authority [Source: Russian Field].
In the aftermath, Russia reportedly began pursuing a new drone suppression system designed to address evolving threats to airspace and ground operations. The broader implication points to ongoing changes in how security is managed, including the integration of unmanned systems and enhanced countermeasure capabilities as part of a modernization effort in national defense infrastructure [Source: Russian Field].