Yevgeny Prigozhin

The U.K. Ministry of Defense warned of the "significant challenge" the Russian public will face once former violent offenders return from war.

The head of the mercenaries fighting for Moscow in Ukraine has reportedly sent a letter to Russia's defense minister asking for help.

One fighter recruited from prison blamed Russian media for misleading him.

A U.S.-based think tank believes the leader of the Wagner Group mercenaries is furthering his feud with Russia's military officials.

Yevgeny Prigozhin said he received word on conversations between Russian leaders to "neutralize" his mercenaries. There's no sign such conversations occurred.

"We are recruiting fighters from all regions of Russia," the Wagner Group, which consists of mercenaries, reportedly said.

Yevgeny Prigozhin also said his mercenary troops have made further advancements in the besieged city of Bakhmut.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said ill-equipped Ukrainian troops are holed up in the AZOM metal plant in the Donetsk city.

The newly proposed law protects Russian fighters "from provocations and lies," said the Russian Duma chairman.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry and a Russian prisons watchdog group said Vladimir Putin's military has been using female convicts.

Putin has tasked his most senior commander, General Valery Gerasimov, with salvaging victory from Russia's quagmire in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin has had increasingly public clashes with the Kremlin in recent weeks, accusing Russia's defense ministry of treason.

Founder Yevgeny Prigozhin could be carving out a new "specialized role" for his recruits in Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War think tank.

The financier of the mercenaries fighting for Russia made the wild claim in a video message, but his tongue was likely firmly in his cheek.

"They push with numbers, but they also constantly probe for weak spots and shift accordingly," a political scientist told Newsweek regarding Russia's strategy.

Despite Wagner's prominence in Ukraine, there exists a long, complicated, and tenuous relationship between Wagner's head and the upper brass of Russia's Ministry of Defense (MoD). This has been amplified by Prigozhin frequently criticizing Russian military leadership, complaining of their unwillingness to resupply Wagner fighters while also claiming credit for delivering tactical victories by capturing places like Popasna and Soledar.

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has been ramping up his criticism of Russia's Defense Ministry in recent weeks, as the battle for Bakhmut intensifies.

Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said he's being punished for making public appeals for more ammunition.

Mark Hertling wrote in a Twitter thread that Russia's campaign in Ukraine was being hampered by a "lack of coordination."

"I'm knocking on all doors and sounding the alarm about ammunition and reinforcements," Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said.

A representative from the mercenary group was reportedly denied access to Russia' military command, according to Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Yevgeny Prigozhin wrote on Telegram, "It is simply indecent to discuss Strelkov," referring to former Russian commander Igor Girkin's alias.

Igor Girkin called for Yevgeny Prigozhin's removal as the head of the Wagner Group.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had vowed to hold the "fortress" settlement in the eastern Donetsk region.

Regular Russian military troops and fighters from the Wagner Group mercenary have recently advanced further into the northern suburbs of the Bakhmut.

The Wagner Group "prevents the enemy from breaking through," mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said.

Prigozhin's fighters have been heavily involved in operations to take control of the city of Bakhmut, which has been under intense bombardment for months.

"The Ukrainians are setting the conditions to potentially withdraw," military expert Philip Ingram told Newsweek.

A video address by Yevgeny Prigozhin came on the same day a Ukrainian commander visited the Donetsk region city.

"Kupiansk has more tactical value" than Bakhmut, according to one military analyst.