Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/KYIV: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the billionaire founder of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, has accused unspecified Russian officials of denying his fighters sufficient ammunition as part of the ongoing rivalry between himself and part of the Russian elite.
Russian Military Denying
Prigozhin, a one-time catering entrepreneur who used to shun the public spotlight, has assumed the ever more public role in Russian politics since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine a year ago as his Wagner Group spearheaded Russia’s months-long battle for the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
In a seven-minute audio message published by his press service, the apparently angry and emotional Prigozhin said he was required to “apologize and obey” to secure ammunition for his fighters.
Speaking at times with a loud voice and occasionally swearing, he said: “I am unable to solve this problem despite all my connections and contacts.”
Prigozhin said Russia’s army production was now sufficient to supply the forces fighting at the front, and the supply difficulties his fighters were experiencing were the result of conscious decisions.
He said, “Those who interfere with us trying to win this war are absolutely, directly working for the enemy,”.
