The head of the Russian Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigojine, admitted Thursday that his men continue to suffer casualties in the fighting in Ukraine, during a visit to a cemetery that “continues to grow.”
A video released by his press service on Telegram shows Evgeny Prigokhine standing in front of dozens of graves surmounted by crosses and on which wreaths are placed.
“Wagner’s fighters continue to be buried here and there is no problem with that to this day. We will improve it and make this cemetery a monument for future generations,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said.
“Yes, (the cemetery) is getting bigger and bigger. Those who fight sometimes die. That’s life,” Wagner’s boss said again.
Russia communicates very little about the losses it has suffered in Ukraine since the start of the offensive it launched in February 2022.
Heavy losses suffered at Bakhmout
The last official report of casualties communicated by the Ministry of Defense dates from September 2022 and reports 5,937 dead soldiers. This does not include Wagner fighters, who are not officially part of the armed forces.
According to Western estimates, the Russian forces – the army, Wagner and pro-Russian separatists from Ukraine – could count more than 150,000 dead and wounded in their ranks.
Wagner’s fighters are notably on the front lines in the battle for the town of Bakhmout in eastern Ukraine, where both sides have suffered heavy casualties.
Source: BFM TV
