Yevgeny Prigojine showed himself on Monday aboard what he claims is a bomber returning from Bakhmout, in eastern Ukraine, where the fighting is intense. Ukraine's parliament passed a resolution on Monday describing the Wagner Group as a "terrorist organization".
A communication operation while the fighting does not weaken. The boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner , Yevgeny Prigozhin, appeared on Monday aboard what he presented as a Su-24 bomber returning from a bombardment on Bakhmout, the epicenter of the fighting in the east of the 'Ukraine.
In one video, the businessman-turned-warlord is outfitted in a pilot's helmet and mask, while a nightscape can be seen through the window as the aircraft lands.
"We landed, we bombed Bakhmout," said Mr. Prigojine in this short video broadcast on Telegram by his press service.
Yevgeny Prigojine also challenged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he would board a MiG-29 fighter on Tuesday. "If you want, we will meet in the sky. If your device takes over, you recover (Bakhmout), otherwise we will go to the (river) Dnieper", he assures.
Wagner branded a 'terrorist' by Ukraine
This video is broadcast the day the Ukrainian Parliament passed a resolution describing the Wagner group as a "terrorist organization", whose mercenaries fight on the front line alongside the Russian army .
"We are preparing to destroy Wagner as a component of international terrorism," Ukrainian presidential administration chief Andriy Iermak said on Telegram.
The Ukrainian deputies "also adopted a request to international organizations and parliaments concerning the recognition of Russian private military companies as terrorist organisations", specified David Arakhamia, leader of the presidential faction in Parliament.
A "complicated" situation for Ukrainians
Wagner's men are notably on the offensive in Bakhmout, which Moscow has been trying to take since the summer , at the cost of heavy losses on both sides and great destruction. The Ukrainian defense there has been weakened since recent Russian territorial gains, including the town of Soledar further north .
Zelensky acknowledged on Saturday that the situation "is getting more complicated" for the Ukrainians at several points on the front, and in particular in Bakhmout. Prigojine reported to him on Sunday "hard fights" for each street.