Yevgeny Prigozhin, head and founder of Wagner’s mercenary group, asked Politico for help equipping his private army with Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, responding in his ironic style after the Brussels publication asked him for his views on the matter . with the investigation of the manufacturer of the Russian Orsis T-5000 rifle, used by the fighters of “Putin’s cook”, which purchased ammunition from an American company.

In a sarcastic voice message sent in response to a request for comment, Prigozhin also asked for help in obtaining American-made sniper rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers, news.ro said.

“Please talk to your contacts so we can get these supplies,” said Prigozhin, whose mercenaries fought on the front lines of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

“I have one more request for you,” continued Prigozhin. “So: F-35. If there is an opportunity, as we discussed earlier, to purchase the equipment through New Zealand. They may need refueling in Hawaii, but I don’t.” foresee the problem,” he said.

His remarks were delivered in a jovial and wry tone, a stark contrast to the angry and insult-filled tirades he often delivers to Russia’s military chiefs about supply problems for its forces, Politico noted.

The publication asked Prigozhin to express his point of view to complete the investigation, after which he found evidence that the manufacturer of the Russian Orsis T-5000 rifle used by Wagner’s mercenaries bought ammunition from an American company.

Prigozhin remembered “The Merchant of Death”

In a clear denial, Prigozhin replied that Wagner, who had captured the city of Bakhmut after a months-long bloody battle, had “a large amount of NATO ammunition left over from the Ukrainian army.”

In a two-and-a-half-minute recording posted on his Telegram channel, the Wagner leader also made an ironic reference to Viktor Bout, nicknamed “The Merchant of Death,” a Russian arms dealer who was released by the U.S. last December in a prisoner swap for professional basketball player Brittney Greiner .

“I’m sure you know Viktor Bout well,” Prigozhin said. “I’ve already talked to him – he’s ready to take over all supplies. But we’ll assume that you’re participating in this dialogue on behalf of the United States of America,” he said. . continued Prigozhin sarcastically.

“So I’m shaking your hand, thank you very much for asking and I hope you will answer me. Obviously, in connection with the delivery of the F-35, reply in a private message,” he added in the same sarcastic tone.

And in parting, Prigozhin addresses the Politico journalist directly by name, who asked his point of view: “Douglas, my friend, I completely forgot! If the deal is closed, my personal Orsis (rifle) will be my gift to you.”

American ammunition for Russian rifles

Orsis T-5000 rifles are produced by the Moscow company “Promtehnologiya”, which has come under US sanctions.

However, documents obtained by POLITICO show that Promtechnologiya and another Russian firm, Tetis, purchased hundreds of thousands of cartridges manufactured by Hornady, an American company founded in 1949.

Politico’s revelations add to a growing body of evidence that shipments of lethal and non-lethal military equipment continue to flow to Russia, despite the West imposing unprecedented sanctions in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Defense experts say that wartime conditions have revealed Russia’s lack of capacity to produce highly effective sniper bullets, and this is helping the black market for Western ammunition to flourish.

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