The leader of the Wagner paramilitary group praised the effectiveness of his troops in Ukraine, where they often compete with the regular Russian army, AFP reports.

In a video released on Saturday evening by his press service, Yevgeny Prigozhin talked about the reasons why his fighters were able to capture the city of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, which Kyiv still denies.

Prigozhin stated that his men were very experienced and “completed all their tasks independently” because they had their own aviation, artillery and armored vehicles.

“The most important thing is a well-developed management system. “The Wagner group listens to everyone, everyone can say what they think,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said.

But “if the decision is made, all missions are completed, no one can go back. It’s the toughest discipline that gives us that opportunity,” he continued, dressed in camouflage alongside the man he introduced as the commander of the Wagner at the Battle of Soledar.

Prigozhin’s comments look like yet another veiled criticism of the Russian high command, which even some supporters of Vladimir Putin accuse of being incoordinated and out of touch with reality.

In recent months, Yevgeny Prigozhin has repeatedly criticized the Russian military command, particularly during Ukrainian military successes this fall in the Kharkiv (eastern) and Kherson (southern) regions.

On Friday, the Russian military announced the capture of the city of Soledar, without initially mentioning Wagner’s fighters. Through his press service, Yevgeny Prigozhin expressed his regret about the “constant attempts to steal victories” of his group.

The Russian Ministry of Defense later issued a statement praising the “courage” of Wagner’s men at Soledar.

Wagner’s group, founded in 2014, recruited thousands of prisoners to fight in Ukraine in exchange for reduced terms.

In a sign of growing power, 61-year-old Yevgeny Prigozhin admitted in September that he founded the Wagner Group after years of denials. Currently, he regularly travels to the Ukrainian front and actively expresses himself through his press service.

Is Prigozhin the new hero of Russia?

Prominent Putin supporters, some of whom have access to the Russian leader, compare Prigozhin’s successes to what they say are the less impressive results of the regular army.

Serhii Markov, a former adviser to the Kremlin, called the mercenary leader with a shaved head “a new hero.”

“Pryhogin also has shortcomings. But I will not tell you about them. Because Prigozhin and Wagner are now the national property of Russia. They become a symbol of victory,” Markov wrote in his blog, stating that they should receive more funds from the state.

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the state-controlled RT channel close to the Kremlin, thanked Prigozhin for Soledar.

Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter, suggested on his blog that Prigozhin acted if Putin removed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, 67, a longtime ally.

In the past, Prigozhin played down the idea that he was seeking an official ascension, but did not categorically rule out such a possibility. His press service, like the Kremlin, did not respond to requests for additional comment.

Putin said that Wagner does not represent the state and does not violate Russian law, and that he has the right to work and promote his business interests anywhere in the world.

• Reuters ANALYSIS: How important Prigozhin became to Putin after his success on the Ukrainian battlefield