Russia’s Prigozhin says Zambian scholar who died in Ukraine was combating with Wagner By Reuters

(Reuters) – Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, an in depth ally of President Vladimir Putin, mentioned on Tuesday {that a} Zambian scholar who died in Ukraine had been combating for his Wagner Personal Army Group.

Russia beforehand notified Zambia that Lemekhani Nyirenda had been killed on the battlefield in Ukraine in September, prompting Zambia to ask Moscow for extra particulars and a proof of how he had ended up combating within the conflict.

Nyirenda’s father mentioned he had been serving a nine-year jail sentence on the outskirts of Moscow for a drug offence when he was “conscripted” to struggle. His household mentioned it was unclear how he was recruited or by whom.

On Tuesday, Prigozhin’s Harmony catering group mentioned Nyirenda had been recruited by Wagner. Prigozhin and different Wagner representatives have toured Russian prisons providing amnesty in return for signing as much as struggle for Russia in Ukraine.

“Sure, I bear in mind this man nicely,” Prigozhin mentioned in a written response to a query from a reporter as as to if the Zambian had been combating for Wagner.

Prigozhin mentioned Nyirenda had died a “hero” and that he was “one of many first to interrupt into the enemy trenches on Sept. 22”.

Reuters was unable to confirm the circumstances of Nyirenda’s dying or Prigozhin’s assertion that he had joined Wagner voluntarily.

Having for years denied his hyperlinks to Wagner and operated within the shadows, Prigozhin has in current months adopted a extra assertive presence on the Russian home scene, criticising the army management, acknowledging that he had based Wagner and admitting to interfering in U.S. elections.