The founder and head of Wagner, o Yevgeny Prigozhin said today that his mercenary group’s fighters would not sign any contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, hours after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sought to bring volunteer detachments under his control.

Prigozhin constantly launches verbal attacks against the Russian military leadership, but neither Shoigu nor the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces Valery Gerasimov have publicly commented on Prigozhin’s insults and critical statements against the army leadership.

However, the Ministry of Defense issued a statement yesterday Saturday in which it is noted that the Shoigu ordered all “volunteer detachments” to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the end of the month, a move the ministry said would increase the effectiveness of the Russian military.

Although the defense ministry did not mention Wagner by name in its announcement, Russian media reported that the move was an attempt by Shoigu to bring the mercenaries under his control.

“Wagner will not sign any contract with Shoigu,” Prigozhin said in response to a request for comment on the order, adding that it does not apply to Wagner.

Prigozhin said the mercenary organization was promoting Russia’s interests, but that its highly effective administrative structure would be destroyed if it reported to Shoigu.

“Shoigu cannot properly manage military formations,” Prigozhin said, adding that Wagner was coordinating her actions in Ukraine with General Sergei Surovykin, nicknamed “General of Armageddon.”