War Correspondents Report Mixed Claims on Wagner Ammunition Deliveries
A war correspondent named Alexander Sladkov asserted that the private military company Wagner delivered more than 2,500 tons of ammunition of various calibers to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The report appeared on his telegraph channel and was cited by others in related coverage.
According to Sladkov, Wagner supplied to the armed forces in the special military operation zone more than 2,500 tons of ammunition of different calibers. The statement specifies that the total includes substantial quantities of artillery and rocket artillery rounds. The claim reflects a broad range of munition types that would be used in sustained ground operations as the conflict continued.
Sladkov added that Wagner operates two warehouses located in the Rostov and Voronezh regions, which he said are currently under the control of the Russian defense ministry. He noted that the Voronezh warehouse contained more than 1,100 tons of ammunition, underscoring the scale of stockpiles described in his briefing.
In discussing the remarks, Sladkov referenced a remark attributed to Yevgeny Prigozhin about ammunition shortages, preemptively questioning the lines spoken by Prigozhin and the timing of any alleged refusals or delays in ammunition supply.
Alexander Kots, a military correspondent for Komsomolskaya Pravda, also contributed details through his telegraph channel. He explained that the Wagner deliveries included shells for multiple rocket and artillery systems in various types and calibers, including high explosive fragmentation rounds, cumulative and sub caliber shells for tanks, and shells used with grenade launchers and rocket-propelled flamethrowers. He estimated more than 500 tons in this category, along with mines, more than 5 million rounds of small arms ammunition, and around 88 thousand grenades across different varieties. These figures paint a picture of a substantial and diversified ammunition pipeline associated with Wagner according to the channel’s reporting.
Earlier in the year, Evgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner, publicly complained about what he described as an ammunition shortage and urged the Ministry of Defense to provide the necessary supplies. The conversations surrounding these claims have lingered in media and official statements, prompting ongoing discussion about the logistics and oversight of ammunition distribution in the conflict area.
Reports later indicated that the military established or reinforced the Southern Military District headquarters following the Wagner rebellion, a development cited by individuals covering the conflict who referenced shifts in command and control during critical moments of the crisis. The broader question remains how these reported supply movements align with official procurement records, warehouse management, and the strategic needs of Russian forces operating in diverse theaters tied to the ongoing operations.
Observers note that the numbers cited by Sladkov and Kots are large in scale and should be interpreted with caution given the sensitive nature of ammunition stock details in wartime reporting. Analysts emphasize the importance of cross-checking figures with independent sources and official releases to understand the true state of logistics across the involved entities. Still, the reports contribute to a broader narrative about how private military contractors may interact with state defense structures in complex operational environments.
Ultimately, the discourse around Wagner and ammunition logistics highlights questions about supply chain transparency, accountability, and the role of private groups in national defense. The comments from Sladkov, Kots, and Prigozhin illustrate how information presented through telegraph channels and media channels can influence public perception even as researchers seek verifiable, corroborated data from multiple angles. The situation remains dynamic, with official updates shaping how such claims are received by the international community and domestic audiences alike.