Thread by @GuinieZoo_Intel

Brief Wagner 🧵

#Russia's Wagner has released a new propaganda documentary "Best in Hell" produced by Prigozhin, who has been on something of a PR campaign

Far from framing Wagner as the saviors or just in their actions, they acknowledge "We know that we will go to hell"
1/13

The opening of the video notes the recent death of Alexie Nagin - Prigozhin attended the funeral

It's part of a concerted effort to elevate Wagner mercs to hero status in RUS. Increasingly they are awarded state medals - including Nagin & Prigozhin

https://twitter.com/GuinieZoo_Intel/status/1575487615800729601?s=20&t=q490ziq58AgvaKAofMrMCA

2/13

Worth noting that the video includes the line "We have a contract with our homeland"

Despite the open secrete that is Wagner, private military contractors are illegal in Russia & this has been seen as Kremlin leverage over Prigozhin & his contractors

Now it is in the open
3/13

To that point, Prigozhin has, for the first time, admitted his role in the creation of Wagner

This is not the first time RUS has used PMCs (Slavic Corps) nor the only one currently active, but they have become the largest & the most notorious

https://twitter.com/GuinieZoo_Intel/status/1574442667408519168?s=20&t=q490ziq58AgvaKAofMrMCA

4/13

Beyond glorifying Wagner, it also shows their mercs operating artillery, armor, & jets

Prigozhin et al are eager to elevate & exaggerate Wagner's role. They are the first to publish their successes like Popasna

This may play into their repeated attempts at taking Bakhmut
5/13

Prigozhin, who has always tried to keep a low profile & has often gone as far as to sue those who try to bring his connections with Wagner to light, has emerged from the shadows & into the spotlight

https://twitter.com/GuinieZoo_Intel/status/1559202265864478720?s=20&t=k3Z-qvCk5Zs_g2-Wx92csA

6/13

Wagner drastically increased their recruiting efforts, including targeting Russian prisoners, early in the war

Instead of denying these reports, Prigozhin allowed himself to not only be filmed but for the footage to be published

This is not the standard GRU>Wagner pipeline
7/13

Recently, Prigozhin made a point of attending Wagner Commander Alexie Nagin's funeral, as mentioned above

This was reported in Russian media & likely orchestrated for publicity. Nagin was posthumously awarded the hero of RUS Star & Prigozhin made sure he wore his own on cam
8/13

Prigozhin is not alone in attempting to use the war to raise his profile - Kadyrov has been vocal from the start. Both have shown a recent willingness to criticize the Kremlin

RUS mil bloggers have made note. The question is, what are their end goals

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1576261226044084224?s=20&t=q490ziq58AgvaKAofMrMCA

9/13

Prigozhin also alluded to involvement in US politics & distances himself from the illegal annexation

"I've always had friendly relations with the US & sometimes even helped them fix their internal problems"

Re referendum: "No one asked me about it & I didn't participate"
10/13

The most telling part of his response though comes when discussing his absence from the latest round of sanctions:

"I take that to mean that I have not been sufficiently effective in that realm yet. I'll aim to improve"

The implication is chilling
11/13

There is more to Prigozhin's recent uncharacteristic public posturing, but the exact reason is unclear

My bet is a mix of ambition & building a foundation for post-Putin Russia

It's a dangerous game for a man with so many enemies

Defenestration is always a risk in RUS
12/13

Thank you @UkraineMidterms for the translation help & @HelloMrBond for the additional content
13/13