Russia's notorious Wagner Group mercenaries are being ordered to scale down operations in Ukraine amid Kremlin fears they are becoming too powerful.
The 50,000-strong squad, many of them convicted criminals, have played a key role in brutal fighting in eastern Ukraine.
But founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has stopped recruiting prisoners and will draw down his troops in weeks, according to sources.
It is believed they will be replaced by regular soldiers among as many as 300,000 new troops heading to war.
The demotion of Wagner’s position in Ukraine was ordered after President Vladimir Putin became increasingly concerned about his own position.
Despite being so-called Putin allies both Prigozhin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov are becoming increasingly powerful in the region.
The pair, plus the recently demoted Russian General Sergey Surovikin, are all suspected possible plotters against Putin.
Russia expert Bruce Jones told the Daily Mirror: “President Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin have been very close contacts and allies for decades.
“This appears to be a parting of the way after Prigozhin had been openly critical, even abusive to senior military figures in the regular forces. It is believed that by implication his criticism of the conduct of the regular forces and their commanders is a slight against Putin, who now sees him as a potential rival.”
Russia’s long-awaited spring offensive appears to have launched sooner than expected with massive missile attacks throughout Ukraine.
Fierce battles are raging outside the key town of Bakhmut, in Donetsk, as Russian forces engage in heavy shelling and infantry attacks,
Ukraine’s presidential office said yesterday at least five civilians had been killed and as many wounded in 24 hours.
Now the race is on to get essential armoured equipment to frontline Ukrainian troops.
