Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin warned on Wednesday (May 24) that Russia could face a revolution similar to that of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war.

Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin warned on Wednesday (May 24) that Russia could face a revolution similar to that of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war. In an interview posted on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin said that his political outlook was dominated "by the love of the motherland" and serving Russian President Vladimir Putin, but cautioned that Moscow was in danger of turmoil, the news agency Reuters reported. "Now for political credo - I love my motherland, I serve Putin, Shoigu is useless and we will fight on. That's it," he said. Prigozhin added that there was a so-called optimistic view that the West would get tired of war and China would broker a peace deal, but he did not believe this. Instead, Ukraine was preparing a counteroffensive aimed at pushing Russian troops back to its borders before 2014, he said. If ordinary Russians continued getting their children back in zinc coffins while the children of the elite "shook their arses" in the sun, he said, Russia would face turmoil along the lines of the 1917 revolutions that ushered in a civil war. "This divide can end as in 1917 with a revolution," the Wagner chief said, adding "First the soldiers will stand up, and after that - their loved ones will rise up." 20,000 Wagner fighters killed in Bakhmut: Prigozhin Prigozhin also said that 20,000 fighters of the Wagner group were killed in the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine. "During the operation, I recruited 50,000 prisoners, of whom about 20 per cent died. This is exactly the same number as those who came to us under contract, meaning not from prison. Another 20 per cent were wounded and their wounds stop them from performing combat activities for three months or more," he added. In Bakhmut, Prigozhin said, Ukraine suffered casualties of 50,000-70,000 wounded and 50,000 dead. He also cautioned that Ukrainian forces would try to encircle Bakhmut and attack Crimea. He further went on to criticise the Russian military leadership and Moscow's post-Soviet policy towards Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: Wagner Group chief warns Russia could face another revolution unless...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary&nbsp;Sergii Nykyforov has clarified the&nbsp;recent statement made by the leader on the fall of Bakhmut.&nbsp;

“Reporter’s question: Russians said they have taken Bakhmut. President’s reply: I think no,”&nbsp;Sergii Nykyforov wrote on Facebook, as he claimed that the leader was responding to a different part of the reporter’s question.

In Ukrainian language, he added, "In this way, the president denied the capture of Bakhmut."

Zelensky earlier on&nbsp;Sunday appeared to have confirmed the news of the warring nation having lost the city of Bakhmut when he was asked if the region is still in Ukraine's hands since Russia claims it has taken it over. 
 
“I think no,” said Zelensky, while answering about the current status of Bakhmut&nbsp;as he sat&nbsp;alongside US President Joe Biden during a meeting which was being held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.&nbsp;

“You have to understand that there is nothing left in this place. They destroyed everything.. just ruins and a lot of dead Russians, but they came to us," he said,

Zelensky stated that&nbsp;Ukraine’s&nbsp;soldiers did "strong work" and "we appreciate their great job".

"For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing in this place. It is a tragedy,” he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-west-supplying-f-16-jets-to-ukraine-would-carry-colossal-risks-594646">Russia says West supplying F-16 jets to Ukraine would carry 'colossal risks'</a>

 
On Saturday, Russia had claimed that it&nbsp;has fully captured the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city. The fall of the city will mark the end of the bloodiest and longest battle in the already 15-month-old war. 
 
The Wagner Group of mercenaries led the assault on the largely levelled Ukrainian city. Earlier, Wagner Group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said that the Ukrainians have been finally pushed out of the last built-up area inside the city. 
 
The Russian ministry issued a statement on Telegram almost eight hours after Prigozhin's claims. However, Kyiv denied the claim made by Prigozhin and stated that the fight for Bakhmut is still going on. 
 
Referring to the city through its Soviet-era name, the Russian ministry stated, “In the Artyomovsk tactical direction, the assault teams of the Wagner private military company with the support of artillery and aviation of the southern battlegroup have completed the liberation of the city of Artyomovsk.” 
 
The state news agencies of Russia had cited Kremlin’s press service as stating President Vladimir Putin “congratulates the Wagner assault detachments, as well as all servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces units, who provided them with the necessary support and flank protection, on the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk.”

WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Group: Russia did not supply with adequate ammunition | Russia-Ukraine War

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<h2>Biden unveils new&nbsp;arms, ammunition package for Kyiv</h2>

United States President Joe Biden on Sunday unveiled a new weapons package for Kyiv as he held talks with Zelensky in Hiroshima, which is likely to become part of a large-scale counteroffensive which will be soon launched to push Russians back from the occupied territories. 
 
Biden stated that the package would include "ammunition, artillery, armoured vehicles". The announcement comes days after the country permitted allies to transfer advanced F-16 jets to Ukraine.

“The United States continues to help Ukraine respond, recover and rebuild. We're also supporting peace,” Biden stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary Sergii Nykyforov has clarified the recent statement made by the leader on the fall of Bakhmut. “Reporter’s question: Russians said they have taken Bakhmut.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretary Sergii Nykyforov has clarified the recent statement made by the leader on the fall of Bakhmut. “Reporter’s question: Russians said they have taken Bakhmut. President’s reply: I think no,” Sergii Nykyforov wrote on Facebook, as he claimed that the leader was responding to a different part of the reporter’s question. In Ukrainian language, he added, "In this way, the president denied the capture of Bakhmut." Zelensky earlier on Sunday appeared to have confirmed the news of the warring nation having lost the city of Bakhmut when he was asked if the region is still in Ukraine's hands since Russia claims it has taken it over. “I think no,” said Zelensky, while answering about the current status of Bakhmut as he sat alongside US President Joe Biden during a meeting which was being held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. “You have to understand that there is nothing left in this place. They destroyed everything.. just ruins and a lot of dead Russians, but they came to us," he said, Zelensky stated that Ukraine’s soldiers did "strong work" and "we appreciate their great job". "For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing in this place. It is a tragedy,” he added. ALSO READ | Russia says West supplying F-16 jets to Ukraine would carry 'colossal risks' On Saturday, Russia had claimed that it has fully captured the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city. The fall of the city will mark the end of the bloodiest and longest battle in the already 15-month-old war. The Wagner Group of mercenaries led the assault on the largely levelled Ukrainian city. Earlier, Wagner Group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said that the Ukrainians have been finally pushed out of the last built-up area inside the city. The Russian ministry issued a statement on Telegram almost eight hours after Prigozhin's claims. However, Kyiv denied the claim made by Prigozhin and stated that the fight for Bakhmut is still going on. Referring to the city through its Soviet-era name, the Russian ministry stated, “In the Artyomovsk tactical direction, the assault teams of the Wagner private military company with the support of artillery and aviation of the southern battlegroup have completed the liberation of the city of Artyomovsk.” The state news agencies of Russia had cited Kremlin’s press service as stating President Vladimir Putin “congratulates the Wagner assault detachments, as well as all servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces units, who provided them with the necessary support and flank protection, on the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk.” WATCH | Wagner Group: Russia did not supply with adequate ammunition | Russia-Ukraine War Biden unveils new arms, ammunition package for Kyiv United States President Joe Biden on Sunday unveiled a new weapons package for Kyiv as he held talks with Zelensky in Hiroshima, which is likely to become part of a large-scale counteroffensive which will be soon launched to push Russians back from the occupied territories. Biden stated that the package would include "ammunition, artillery, armoured vehicles". The announcement comes days after the country permitted allies to transfer advanced F-16 jets to Ukraine. “The United States continues to help Ukraine respond, recover and rebuild. We're also supporting peace,” Biden stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Zelensky’s spokesperson clarifies Ukrainian leader’s ‘no’, says he denied fall of Bakhmut

The Wagner chief says Bakhmut has fallen. The Ukrainian city has seen fierce fighting for seven months. With Bakhmut's fall, is it game over for Ukraine? Analysts say Ukraine may never be the same again. Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas | The fall of Bakhmut: Is this the end of the road for Ukraine? Is Ukraine losing the war?

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Ukraine war: Wagner Group chief warns Russia could face another revolution unless...

Zelensky’s spokesperson clarifies Ukrainian leader’s ‘no’, says he denied fall of Bakhmut

Gravitas | The fall of Bakhmut: Is this the end of the road for Ukraine? Is Ukraine losing the war?