Yevgeny Prigozhin has called on Russians not to believe what they are being told on state television.

The Wagner chief said in the new video posted on Telegram: “When they tell you that PMC Wagner interfered with work and that’s why something on the front collapsed,” he said, addressing Russians, “things on the front collapsed not for this reason.”

Agence France-Presse reports that Prigozhin also said in the video:

"A huge amount of territory is lost. Soldiers have been killed, three, four times more than what it says in documents shown to the top [leadership]."

The mercenary leader said in the video that he was in Rostov-on-Don’s army headquarters, which are a key logistical base for Russia’s offensive in Ukraine:

"Military sites in Rostov, including an aerodrome, are under control."

Prigozhi said planes taking part in the Ukraine offensive “are leaving as normal” from the airfield.