Evgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner mercenary group, has warned of a Russian defeat in Ukraine. But, according to him, if Moscow does not want to lose, it should focus even more on mobilization and ammunition production.
“Everyone should work only for the war,” the Wagner boss said in an interview with pro-Kremlin blogger Konstantin Dolgov. “We have to prepare for a very tough battle.”
Prigozhin also praised the Ukrainian armed forces. The Russian operation aimed to demilitarize Ukraine, but that country now has far more weapons and forces than before the war. Russia has militarized the country, it said, and Ukraine’s military is one of the best in the world. “They have a high level of organization, a high level of training, a high level of intelligence, and a variety of weapons. They work with all systems – Soviet or NATO – equally successfully.”
On the other hand, the Wagner boss again criticized the Russian Defense for not providing his mercenary army with sufficient ammunition and personnel. According to him, the Donbas could have been wholly conquered if he had received the 200,000 soldiers as reinforcements. The Wagner group said to have 6,000 men who can lead a company.
Prigozhin also admitted that some 20,000 fighters died at the Battle of Bachmut, half of whom recruited prisoners. But experts estimate that number to be higher. Russia claimed full control of Bachmut this weekend, although Kyiv says it still has soldiers in the area. The Wagner boss promises that his troops will surrender their positions to the Russian army by June 1.