MOSCOW

Head of the Wagner paramilitary group Evgeny Progozhin claimed on Thursday that Russian military chiefs are deceiving President Vladimir Putin.

In a message on Telegram, Progozhin highlighted a discrepancy between what he knows and official data, stating, "Because shameless lies are being brought to the president's desk."

He added that he expects a new wave of military mobilization in Russia, claiming that "people have to be prepared" to replace soldiers who have died in battle.

Earlier, the Wagner leader claimed that Ukraine's armed forces were 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Russian positions in the Zaporizhzhia region. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that all of Ukraine's attacks were repulsed.