Battle for Bakhmut grinds down Wagner's mercenaries and cuts their notorious leader down to size | CNN

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of Russia's Wagner private military group, relishes his role as an anti-establishment maverick.

He placed a bet on his mercenaries raising the Russian flag in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

But after months of grinding battle and staggering losses he is struggling to replenish Wagner’s ranks.

Many analysts think his suspicions are well-founded.

Prigozhin may have been surprised by the Ukrainian determination to fight for Bakhmut.

Commentator Alexei Mukhin accused him of having political ambitions even a tilt at the presidency.

He said: “Since I don't have any political ambitions, please give us the ammunition.”.