Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of the Wagner mercenary military group, attacked oligarchs and other wealthy Russians.
Prigozhin, who has rarely appeared in public in the past, defended the idea of taking “the wealth of the oligarchs to finance the war in Ukraine”.
“They are scared. They love their comfort. They love to dive into a warm pool in the evening and enjoy themselves. One has to understand once that one has to separate from everything one has – from the seductive world, restaurants, villas and swimming pools. The sooner it is done, the better,” said the 61-year-old.
He, who is also considered a Russian oligarch in the West, is under sanctions by Western governments because of the Wagner group’s role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Prigozhin is also being sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for interference in the 2020 US presidential election.
Long a shadowy figure, Prigozhin recently recruited Russian criminals for the war in Ukraine in exchange for amnesty. He is also increasingly publicly criticizing the head of the Russian army for the way the war against Ukraine is being conducted.
