The United States believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ally Evgeny Prigozhinfounder of the most powerful mercenary group in Russia, is interested in taking control of salt and gypsum from mines near the Ukrainian-controlled town of Bakhmuta White House official told Reuters.
There are indications that monetary motives are driving Russia and Prigozhin’s “obsession” with Bakhmut, the official added.
The United States has previously accused Russian mercenaries of exploiting natural resources in the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan and elsewhereto help finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine, a charge Russia has dismissed as “anti-Russian rage.”
Prigogine, who is on the sanctions lists of Western countries because of “Wagner”, talks with ex-convicts who ended their contracts in Ukraineand urged them to avoid the temptation to kill when they return to civilian life.
From his force of nearly 50,000 mercenaries the “Wagner” group claimed more than 4100 victims and 10,000 wounded, including more than 1,000 killed in late November and early December near Bakhmut, the US official said on Thursday.
The White House said so late last month Wagner has received a shipment of weapons from North Koreato help bolster Russian forces in Ukraine, a sign of the group’s expanding role in that conflict. Pyongyang has strongly rejected the reportswho offered and delivered weapons to Russia.
