Wagner paramilitary group boss claims he intends to run for president in Ukraine
The shady chief of the Wagner militia has revealed he plans to run for president of Ukraine next year.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the shadowy operation, revealed he has "political ambitions" in a video post on Telegram.
Prigozhin said: "I'm making a political coming out. Looking at everything around me, I've got political ambitions. I decided to run for president in 2024. For President of Ukraine."
The butcher of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen and civilians said he will likely be up against incumbent president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Petro Poroshenko.
"If I win the presidential elections of Ukraine, then everything will be fine, guys, the shells will not be needed," he said.
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Prigozhin says the Russian Defence Ministry isn't supplying his militia with the $1billion-worth of weapons it needs per month (AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)When asked to explain his prior complaints about the Kremlin's defence ministry failing to supply him weapons, he claimed he buys everything with his own cash.
Previously, he claimed his militia required about $1billion-worth (£831million) of ammunition each month to fight the war in Ukraine.
He added: "Fighters die at war in any case, the war is so invented that one army kills another."
The warlord has been accused of liaising with Ukrainian authorities and some say he will choose the "right moment" to leave the battle, which he has denied.
Relations between Prigozhin and the Kremlin are at their worst (Getty Images)"I am not going anywhere. The question is - who took the money when we 'made a gesture of goodwill' and surrendered Kherson, Kharkiv region and many other (territories)?," he asked.
It comes after Prigozhin announced that Wagner has set up recruitment centres in 42 Russian cities.
"There are new fighters coming there who will go side by side with us to defend their country and their family. To make our common future and protect the memory of the past. Despite the colossal resistance of Ukraine's armed forces, we will go forward. Despite the sticks in the wheels that are stuck in ours at every move, we will overcome this together," Prigozhin said.
The Wagner Group has been instrumental in Russia's frontline victories (Getty Images)Earlier this week, Prigozhin claimed the Kremlin had blocked his phone as the infighting continues.
Prigozhin's access to key defence and security officials has been blocked.
Earlier today, he said: “Our ammunition [supply] has not improved... but there has indeed been a change.”
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“In order for me to stop asking for ammunition, I have had all special communication phones in all offices, in all units, switched off.”
The “chef”, who has previously criticised Russian defence officials and commanders for failing to supply his private military force Sith weaponry, said: “They have blocked all passes to the [state] agencies that make decisions [on war supplies].”
“I will not name them so as not to discredit them in any way,” he said.
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