Wagner chief warns of a Russian 'revolution' if catastrophic losses in Ukraine continue

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has warned that there could be another Russian revolution if Moscow's losses continue in Ukraine.

In an interview with pro-Kremlin blogger Konstantin Dolgov that was released Thursday, Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed there was popular anger regarding what he called the "fat, carefree" lives of the children of the Russian elite during the war.

This could lead to their "villas" being stormed by ordinary people armed with "pitchforks", he claimed.

"Everything might end as in 1917, with a revolution," Prigozhin said, referring to the revolt that eventually swept the autocratic Romanov dynasty out of power in Russia.

The Wagner boss has launched scathing attacks on the Russian military hierarchy as he seeks to take control of the ground efforts of the Russian army in east Ukraine.

His most recent remarks come after Wagner Group allegedly delivered Russia one of its few battlefield victories, capturing the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on Saturday.

However, Prigozhin also claimed that Russian forces are so weak and Ukrainian ones so strong that they would not be able to defend Russia from a Ukrainian invasion.  This was an apparent reference to an incident in Belogrod in which pro-Ukrainian forces made a successful incursion into Russia from Ukraine.

Wagner is seen by some as the private army of Putin, operating on his behalf in multiple warzones across the world, including Syria, Libya and now Sudan.