Citing sources, Bloomberg noted that the Wagner PMC's founder is preparing to wind down his private army's operations in Ukraine after the Russian military leadership managed to cut key supplies of men and ammunition.
“Seen as an increasing threat by the security and political establishment (of Russia - ed.), Prigozhin is struggling with a manpower and ammunition shortage in Ukraine after he was barred from recruiting from prisons, his primary source of recruits, and deprived of supplies. Wagner troops so far have failed to take their main target - the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut - despite months of trying and staggering losses. Now, Prigozhin is planning to shift focus back to Africa, the people said,” the publication writes.
The journalists emphasized that after weeks of public complaints that the occupying forces were not being supplied with vital ammunition and other supplies, Prigozhin admitted that after the battle for Bakhmut is over, the Wagner Group will have to reset and reduce its forces. He recently claimed that the Wagner mercenaries had captured a village in the area, but failed to mention that the last census showed its population at just two people.
On January 20, Politico found out that the Wagner PMC is expanding its mining projects in the Central African Republic, earning millions of dollars.