Prigozhin spoke about plans to recruit another 30,000 people to Wagner’s PMC

The founder of the private military company (PMC) “Wagner”, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that by mid-May this year he plans to recruit another 30,000. people. As the businessman noted in an audio message published by his press service, the average number of recruits per day varies from 500 to 800, but it happens that it reaches 1,200 people.

Prigozhin reminded that previously PMC fighters were recruited in Russian prisons, but only 30% of them were properly trained, and 70% required adjustment. All recruits are currently undergoing full physical and combat training.

Prigozhin also predicts that after some time the number of recruited fighters will begin to decrease, but by mid-May the Polish Military Contingent plans to increase the number of the unit by about 30,000.

In February US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said 30,000 PMC “Wagner” lost a year of war in Ukraine. PKW “Wagner” suffered the greatest losses in the fierce battles near Bachmut in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, the Financial Times reported, citing the estimates of the US authorities, that during the fighting in the Soledar-Bachmut section, Prigozhin’s company lost 4,000. mercenaries killed and 10,000 wounded.

In total, according to Washington’s calculations, PMC “Wagner” has 50,000 soldiers. people, Kirby said in late December. Of these, 40,000 are prisoners recruited from Russian prisons, and only 10,000 are professional fighters.