[Inside Chodong] Why "Putin's Chef" Instigated a Rebellion

The repercussions of the military rebellion recently instigated by Russia's private military company (PMC), the Wagner Group, continue to unfold day by day. As various speculations pour in regarding the reasons behind the rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group and a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin?often called "Putin's chef"?attention is focused on how this will affect the ongoing war in Ukraine and the international geopolitical landscape.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Until the military rebellion, Prigozhin was known solely as a loyal subordinate of Putin, with very little verified information about his exact background. There are legendary stories with no credibility, such as him committing various crimes as a teenager and being imprisoned, then released after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and later founding Russia's largest catering company, Concorde Catering, with money earned from selling hot dogs.

He became Putin's close aide in 1996, before Putin became president, reportedly by chance when Putin dined at Concorde Catering and they hit it off. Later, in 2013, when Russia planned the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, the Wagner Group was established as a subsidiary under Concorde Catering to assist with the operation. From that point, Prigozhin transformed from a mere chef and businessman into a warlord.

After Russia's forced annexation of Crimea, the Wagner Group became involved in the civil wars in Syria and Iraq, as well as coups and warlord conflicts across Africa, securing vast economic interests. The Putin administration, reluctant to involve the Russian military directly, actively supported Wagner by lending some tanks, armored vehicles, and fighter jets. With Putin's strong backing, Wagner Group grew into the world's largest mercenary company within just ten years.

However, it is believed that prolonged sanctions against Russia decisively drove a wedge between Putin and Prigozhin. With international payments blocked and overseas assets largely frozen or seized, Concorde Catering and Wagner Group faced severe financial difficulties. Coupled with the stalemate in the Ukraine war, maintaining and operating their forces became extremely challenging.

Subsequently, Prigozhin, who had been shrouded in secrecy as "Putin's chef," began actively exposing himself to the media and strongly criticizing the Russian military leadership. He frequently visited the Ukrainian frontlines to encourage Wagner mercenaries, creating a stark contrast with the Russian military high command comfortably seated in the rear.

In particular, he publicly demanded the dismissal of Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who was considered Putin's second-in-command and successor, criticizing the military leadership's poor performance. As a result, Prigozhin's popularity surged, sparking rumors that he was aiming to enter politics.

It is highly likely that after the war ends, he intended either to secure a more stable high-ranking position within the Putin administration or to leverage popular support to make an actual political entry. However, it is analyzed that the possibility of him overthrowing the Putin regime and dominating Russian politics was low.

Nevertheless, this event dealt a significant shock to Putin, whose iron-fisted rule has lasted over 20 years, as well as to authoritarian regimes worldwide. It served as a lesson that even the most trusted subordinate warlord can turn their guns on the regime depending on circumstances. This is why the aftermath of this rebellion is expected to spread various tensions, large and small, across China, North Korea, and authoritarian regimes in general for some time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.