Overview

Andrei Troshev, known by the call signs Sedoy (meaning “gray-haired”) and BB, was the executive director (later shortened to director) of the Wagner Group. Born on April 5, 1962 (or possibly 1953) in Saint Petersburg, then known as Leningrad, he was closely associated with the organization’s founders, Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin.

Troshev received his military education from the Leningrad Higher Artillery Command School and the Military Artillery Order of Lenin Red Banner Academy. His career included commanding a special rapid reaction unit (SOBR) in Saint Petersburg and working for a special police squad (OMON). He is a veteran of the Afghan and Chechen wars. In Afghanistan, he commanded a battery of self-propelled artillery units. His service earned him numerous accolades, including two Orders of the Red Star, two Orders of Courage, and a Medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland (Second Degree) for his participation in the Chechen war. He reached the rank of police colonel but was forced to retire in 2012 due to alcohol abuse issues.

While Troshev is widely recognized as a founding member of Wagner, some internal company documents present a conflicting timeline, indicating that he officially joined the organization on April 20, 2016. This discrepancy may reflect administrative formalities or internal record-keeping practices rather than the actual timeline of his involvement with the group. As director of the Wagner Group, Troshev’s role encompassed responsibilities in recruitment, communications, legal affairs, training, reconnaissance, security, and operation planning. He maintained direct connections with duty officers across different sectors, including Sudan and Syria, and liaised directly with Russia’s Ministry of Defense. Troshev was linked to Wagner operations in Syria’s Homs governorate and the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus, areas associated with significant civilian casualties and alleged atrocities. His involvement in the assault on Palmyra in Syria in 2016 earned him the title of “Hero of Russia.” Troshev also allegedly ordered the ill-fated storming of an oil field in Khasham, resulting in significant Wagner casualties. He served as the director of the Wagner-affiliated League for the Protection of the Interests of Veterans of Local Wars and Military Conflicts.

Following accusations of betraying Wagner, Troshev transitioned to the Russian Ministry of Defense, where he now oversees the establishment of new volunteer fighting units in Ukraine. This move came in the aftermath of Prigozhin’s June 2023 mutiny, which led to significant changes in Wagner’s structure and operations. As a result of his activities with Wagner, Troshev is subject to travel bans and asset freezes imposed by the European Union, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.