Russia's private Wagner Group, which is leading the assault on Bakhmut in Ukraine and has been active in Africa, could soon cease to exist, founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in video remarks to a blogger that were released on Friday.
It was not immediately clear when Mr Prigozhin had spoken and how serious he was being. Earlier this week, he withdrew comments about the front line he said had been a joke.
Mr Prigozhin has complained repeatedly about how Russia is conducting the war in Ukraine. He often says the regular armed forces are not giving his men the ammunition they need and sometimes accuses the top brass of betrayal.
“Now, with regard to the need in general for shells at the front, what we want — today we are coming to the point where Wagner is ending,” he told Russian war blogger Semyon Pegov.
“Wagner, in a short period of time, will cease to exist. We will become history. Nothing to worry about, things like this happen.”
Mr Pegov posted the clip on his Telegram channel. Wagner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Known for his combative style and ironic sense of humour, Mr Prigozhin said on Thursday that he had been joking when he said his forces would stop shelling Bakhmut to allow Ukrainian forces to show the city to US journalists.
He said this week his troops were suffering heavy casualties due to a lack of support from Moscow.
Last week, he expressed concern about a counter-attack by well-equipped Ukrainian troops at Bakhmut.
Wagner has in the past sent soldiers to fight in Syria and in conflicts across Africa.
In January, the US formally designated the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organisation, freezing its American assets for helping Russia's military in the Ukraine war.
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As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
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Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
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Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
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Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
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