Pavel Prigozhin
Pavel Prigozhin | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 18, 1998 Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, mercenary commander |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Known for | Leadership of Wagner Group since 2023 |
| Spouse | Yekaterina Inkina |
Pavel Yevgenyevich Prigozhin (, born 18 June 1998) is a Russian entrepreneur and mercenary commander who has been at the helm of the Wagner Group since 2023. He is the son of the oligarch and mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and took over leadership of Wagner shortly after the 2023 Wagner Group plane crash.
Early life
Born on 18 June 1998 (with some sources suggesting 1996), Pavel Prigozhin is the middle child of businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, with two sisters named Polina and Veronika.
The family generally kept their private lives out of the public eye, as Yevgeny rarely disclosed personal information. Details about Pavel emerged primarily through sparse references made by his father.
According to Yevgeny, Pavel completed his military service prior to joining the Wagner Group. He has been seen wearing American military apparel and reportedly traveled for business purposes to Syria and Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. Within Wagner, Pavel operated as a reconnaissance officer and drone pilot, earning recognition with the Black Cross medal.
Business career
Pavel began his business ventures in 2018 with the establishment of Beta company. His entrepreneurial reach grew, and since 2020 he has been heading Lakhta Plaza. Additionally, he maintains connections to the Colors of Life art gallery, which is managed by Violetta Prigozhina, mother of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
His enterprises work in partnership with oil and gas giant Gazprom, concentrating on upscale real estate projects in Saint Petersburg. Among his assets is Lakhta Park, a significant residential development.
Wagner Group leadership
On 23 August 2023, a business jet crashed near Kuzhenkino in Tver Oblast, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals including prominent Wagner figures Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, and Valery Chekalov. This tragedy created uncertainty regarding Wagner’s future command.
Following this, on 1 October 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s will disclosed that he had left all his assets to his son Pavel, who became the sole inheritor of his father’s enterprises.
By early October, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Pavel had taken over leadership of Wagner and was engaging in negotiations with Russia’s National Guard to recommence operations in Ukraine. ISW highlighted that some Wagner members showed support for a Prigozhin-associated alternative leader to Andrei Troshev—who is backed by the Kremlin and Ministry of Defence—even if this alternative was not entirely autonomous. According to ISW sources, Wagner fighters would not be required to enter contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense under Pavel’s command, allowing the group to preserve its name, symbols, ideology, and leadership structure.
In August 2024, reports surfaced suggesting that Pavel Prigozhin had offered a $1 million reward for General Valery Gerasimov.
International sanctions
On 3 March 2022, the European Union enacted personal sanctions against Pavel Prigozhin.
Personal life
Pavel Prigozhin is married to Yekaterina Inkina, whose father Sergey Inkin owns restaurants and concert venues. The couple lives in the affluent Northern Versailles community near Saint Petersburg.