Wagner’s Founder Returns from the Grave: He Warned of Ukrainian Encroachment and Proposed a Solution

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Despite his death last year, Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin remains a controversial figure, and his previous statements put the authorities in a difficult position, as he had anticipated a Ukrainian incursion into Russia long before.

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Activists on social media recently shared videos in which Prigozhin criticizes what he sees as “corruption” in Russia and the “flattery of military leaders to secure high positions.” He warned that “the Ukrainian encroachment is coming as a result,” according to the British newspaper The Sun.

In the videos, Prigozhin says, “It is only a matter of time before this Ukrainian incursion has severe consequences.”

He adds, “Residents of border areas in the Belgorod region should be provided with assault rifles, machine guns, collective weapons, and mine throwers, and trained in the use of howitzers.”

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He continues, “I have hopes, namely: First, that the media stop lying. Second, that people see the full catastrophe before the enemy actually reaches them. Third, that the political leadership takes certain steps to prevent everything from being ruined. Otherwise, everything could end in civil war, revolts, and the seizure of our lands.”

Did the Prophecy Come True?

Prigozhin‘s prophecy “has proven correct regarding the seizure of Russian territories,” as Ukraine announced the capture of 400 square miles of Russian land in bold incursions that began in Kursk region last Tuesday.

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In his repeated statements, the late Wagner leader had specifically criticized Sergei Shoigu, who served as Defense Minister from 2012 to 2024 and now holds the position of Secretary of the Russian Security Council.

He had also criticized Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

Regarding his view on repelling any Ukrainian incursion, the late Wagner leader said it was possible “if Kyiv’s forces knew they would face fierce popular resistance.”

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Russian Defense

On August 6, Ukrainian forces launched a major attack on the Kursk region at the border with Russia, the largest by a foreign army on Russian soil since the end of World War II.

Yesterday, Ukraine announced that it was making “good progress” in the border region of Kursk and confirmed its intention to establish a “buffer zone” to protect itself from shelling.

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However, the Russian military asserted that it had repelled Ukrainian attacks aimed at penetrating deeper into the Kursk border region.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated in a statement that its forces, supported by aviation, drones, and artillery, had ” thwarted attempts by enemy mobile groups with armored vehicles to enter deep into Russian territory” and inflicted heavy losses on the Ukrainians.