The conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been going on for well over a year, shows no sign of de-escalating. Russia has has been attempting to assert its dominance in the battle for the contested city of Bakhmut since last April, but has been unsuccessful. According to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of a mercenary outfit known as the Wagner Group, if they are taken out of the equation, "the front line will crumble," and Ukrainian forces will be able to advance.

This was confirmed by Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Ukraine's internal ministry, who said that Prigozhin referred to the mercenaries as "cement" for the Russian front line and "prevents the enemy from breaking through." Prigozhin also reportedly said that if Wagner retreated from the battle, it would go down in history as "the people who