The Wagner Group’s Founder Discusses Ukrainian Forces and Ongoing Frontline Clashes
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have trained a substantial number of soldiers for the anticipated counteroffensive, warning that the adversary should not be underestimated. He spoke during a gathering identified as “Cyber Front Z,” where he offered his assessment of the enemy’s manpower and capabilities. According to Prigozhin, estimates circulated by various sources place Ukrainian recruitment in the hundreds of thousands, with some figures suggesting even higher levels. He stressed that such numbers cannot be dismissed or taken lightly. (Source attribution: contemporaneous reports from the meeting and security briefings.)
In related remarks, Prigozhin referenced a correspondence he allegedly sent to French President Emmanuel Macron. The letter purportedly sought protection for the son of the head of the House of Russia, noting that the head of this House in the Central African Republic has invested significant effort in counterterrorism operations in Africa. It was highlighted that the son in question is a French citizen residing in France. (Source attribution: reported communications and public statements.)
Earlier, Prigozhin commented on battlefield developments around the railway station in Artemivsk, a location known in Ukraine as Bakhmut. He described fierce clashes taking place in and near the station area. The remarks came after Jan Gagin, an adviser to Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, suggested that Russian forces had established control over the railway station in Bakhmut. Prigozhin’s statements appeared to respond to those claims and to provide his own view of the current ground situation. (Source attribution: security briefings and statements by regional officials.)