Yevgeny Prigozhin , the founder of the private mercenary army ' Wagner' , released a video today showing what he claims are coffins with the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers being repatriated to areas under Kiev's control.
In the video, Prigozhin , who appears dressed in military uniform, says: We are sending another shipment of Ukrainian army fighters to their homeland. They fought bravely and died. That is why the last truck will bring them home .
The footage shows men in uniform nailing closed wooden coffins and loading them onto a truck.
Prigozhin , whose company Wagner led Russia's months-long assault on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut , has repeatedly praised the Ukrainian military as a worthy and capable adversary.
On New Year's Eve, Prigozhin -affiliated media released footage showing Wagner's boss visiting prisoners of war, offering them a traditional gift and promising to return to Ukraine in exchange for Russian prisoner.