The newspaper’s two Ukrainian sources confirm that Prigozhin spoke several times with the Ukrainian intelligence service HUR. One of them reports that Chief Wagner made the offer several times, but that Kiev rejected it because it didn’t trust Prigozhin and thought the offer might be a trap. An anonymous American source said in the newspaper that even Washington questioned Prigozhin’s intentions.
Boss Wagner is a Putin ally, but has long complained of what he sees as a lack of support from Moscow. The mercenary army plays an important role in the battle for Bachmoet. Prigozhin has previously threatened to leave Bachmut if Russia doesn’t quickly supply ammunition to its soldiers.