Russia’s Wagner Group, a highly visible mercenary organisation, is beginning to experience serious tensions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In regards to Russia’s Ukraine strategy, Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin has repeatedly criticized senior officials at the Ministry of Defense, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

As of now, Putin, however, has endorsed the Defense Ministry’s demand that volunteer formations, like Wagner, sign contracts with it. As of now, Prigozhin has refused to sign any contracts.

Kyiv’s military command says strengthening air defense, artillery, and counterbattery capabilities are “important objectives”.

On his official Telegram channel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for additional Western weapons to fight a Russian invasion.

“Ukraine has never been the instigator of any aggressive wars.”

“We are appealing to the world for weapons so that our Ukrainian territory can once again be a place of peace—a land for all our people,” Zelenskyy said, adding that “only through the force of arms can we defend against Russian aggression and safeguard our peace.”