Wagner leader accuses Russian forces of trying to blow up his soldiers
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the paramilitary Wagner organisation, who has often been at loggerheads with the Russian military leadership, appears to have taken the dispute further, accusing pro-Moscow forces of trying to blow up his men, according to Sky News and HotNews.
Prigojin's fighters took control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Bahmut in May after months of bloody fighting, and have since ceded their positions to Russian regular forces.
Posting Saturday on Telegram, the mercenary chief said his troops had found a dozen buildings where Defense Ministry officials had planted explosives, including anti-tank mines.
The officials reportedly said the orders to plant the devices came from their superiors.
Prigojin said the move was "not necessary to deter the enemy" because the area in question was in the "rear".
"Therefore, we can assume that these charges were intended to meet the advancing Wagner units," he said.
No charges were set off and no one was injured, the Wagner leader said, adding: "We assume this was an attempt at a public flogging."
The Russian Defense Ministry did not comment on the mercenary chief's accusations.
