Vladimir Putin offered Wagner soldiers the chance to continue fighting under a different commander- known by his nom de guerre, ‘Sedoi’ or ‘Grey Hair’.
“Sedoi” is a highly decorated veteran of Russia‘s wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya. He is from St Petersburg, Putin’s home town, and has been pictured with the president.
The Russian president made the offer last month, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant, days after the attempted mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“All of them could have gathered in one place and continued to serve,” Kommersant quoted Putin as saying.
“And nothing would have changed for them. They would have been led by the same person who had been their real commander all that time.”
Putin said that many of the commanders had nodded their heads at his suggestion but Prigozhin, who was sitting at the front, did not see this, Kommersant said.
“‘No, the boys won’t agree with such a decision’,” Putin quoted Prigozhin as saying.
