Ukraine war: US thinks Wagner founder wants control of salt, gypsum from mines near Bakhmut
- Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian businessman with close ties to Vladimir Putin, is the founder of Wagner mercenary group
- Russian forces led by Wagner have been trying to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut for months
The United States is of the view that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is the founder of Russia’s most powerful mercenary group, is interested in taking control of salt and gypsum from mines near the Ukrainian-held city of Bakhmut, a White House official said on Thursday.
There are indications that monetary motives are driving Russia’s and Prigozhin’s “obsession” with Bakhmut, the official added. Prigozhin is the owner of private Russian military company Wagner Group.
Wagner have been trying to capture Bakhmut for months. The eastern Ukrainian city is now the epicentre of fighting.
The United States has previously accused Russian mercenaries of exploiting natural resources in the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan and elsewhere to help fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine, a charge Russia rejected as “anti-Russian rage”.
Prigozhin, who has been sanctioned by Western countries for his role in Wagner, has spoken out regularly in public, including with harsh criticism of top Russian military commanders.
He has also attacked the Kremlin’s civilian appointees with apparent impunity, a possible sign of his growing influence.
Prigozhin has provided tens of thousands of troops, both contractors from Wagner and convicts to the Ukraine war effort. The latter programme started around June, with the former catering tycoon personally visiting prisons to offer inmates who lasted half a year at the front pardons, but threatening those who surrendered or deserted with death.