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Boss of Wagner mercenaries says Ukraine war has backfired, warns of Russian revolution

By Mary Ilyushina

24 May 2023 · 7 min read

Editor's Note

In an explosive interview, Russian mercenary boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin warns of a revolution in Russia unless the wealthy elite actively engage in the war in Ukraine. The Washington Post has the story.

RIGA, Latvia - Fresh off his claim of victory in capturing the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Russian mercenary boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin warned that Moscow's brutal war could plunge Russia into turmoil similar to the 1917 revolution unless its detached, wealthy elite become more directly committed to the conflict.

In a lengthy interview with Konstantin Dolgov, a political operative and pro-war blogger, Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the Wagner mercenary group, also asserted that the war had backfired spectacularly by failing to "demilitarize" Ukraine, one of President Vladimir Putin's stated aims of the invasion. He also called for totalitarian policies going forward.

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