Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Monday it has signed a contract with the Akhmat group of Chechen special forces, a day after Russia’s powerful mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin refused to do so.

The signing followed an order that all “volunteer units” should sign contracts by July 1 bringing them under the control of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, as Moscow tries to assert its control over private armies fighting on its behalf in Ukraine.

[Will Prigozhin square off against both Shoigu and Kadyrov? This looks like a squeeze play intended to get rid of Prigozhin. If Putin wanted him out, though, we’d have already seen a window failure in Moscow. Still, it looks as though Shoigu may be winning this power play. — Ed]