Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 4,20 May 2023,14 mins

Yevgeny Prigozhin

Profile

Available for over a year

Enter the murky world of one of the most dominant men in Russia. From selling hotdogs to running a private army and meddling in the US elections, from Syria to Ukraine- who is this man in the shadows? One of the most powerful figures you may not have heard of - Yevgeny Prigozhin. Once a hotdog seller in St Petersburg, this former prisoner has risen to become a friend of Putin and his private army is now one of the main Russian players in the invasion of Ukraine. Along the way he has catered to celebrities at his top end restaurant, allegedly run a centre for internet trolls, been accused of meddling in the US elections and financed a mercenary army - the Wagner group - based worldwide. But is his time up? As the situation for his mercenaries gets worse in Ukraine, Prigozhin has started lashing out publicly at the Russian state. Could this be the last course for the man once named 'Putin's Chef'? Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Jordan Dunbar, Georgia Coan Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele

Programme Website
More episodes