Wagner chief frees prisoners who fought in Ukraine for Russia

A man wearing a camouflage uniform walks out of PMC Wagner Centre, which is a project implemented by the businessman and founder of the Wagner private military group, Yevgeny Prigozhin [File: Igor Russak/Reuters]

The first batch of Russian prisoners who were offered amnesty in return for fighting in Ukraine has been released, the head of Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, said in a video.

Published by Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency, Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen in the video telling a group of men: “You’ve worked through your contract. You worked honourably, with dignity.”