The attack was said to have taken place on a hotel complex in the town of Kadievka, west of Luhansk, on Sunday. Large units of mercenaries are stationed here.

– A large number of those who were there died, the governor of the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, Serhiy Hayday, wrote in a television interview. Reuters.

The Wagner Group is a private military unit owned and operated by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, also known as “Putin’s chef”.

“Big losses”

Mercenaries are notorious for their brutality. They are said to be behind a number of war crimes, and have been central to Putin’s war in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine has also previously hit Wagner Group bases, but the latest attack may have hit the heart of the mercenary stronghold of Luhansk.

– I am sure that at least 50 percent of those who manage to survive will die before they receive medical treatment, says Hayday. He described the losses as “significant” reports. BBC.

The pictures show widespread destruction

Pictures posted on Telegram channels are said to show a completely destroyed building where Wagner’s headquarters were located. It is likely that several high-ranking leaders were in the buildings at the time of the attack.

Neither Reuters nor the BBC had access to independent reports that could confirm the attack and the death toll.

Read all about the war in Ukraine here

Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges believes that the Russians are now deeply concerned after the recent Ukrainian attacks. In an interview with CNN Explain why.

Wagner Soldiers have previously been deployed to Crimea, Syria, Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. They are paid better than ordinary soldiers and are under direct command from Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Russia recognizes the Wagner Group

Yevgeny Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin have been cooperating closely on the war in Ukraine. Photo: Misha Jabaridze/AP/NTB

Earlier, Western intelligence reported that the Wagner Group had suffered heavy losses. They primarily fight on the front lines in Luhansk and Donetsk.

For a long time, the Kremlin did not acknowledge that the mercenaries were allied with Russia, but after invading Ukraine, Wagner soldiers are considered an essential part of the Russian occupation forces.

Yevgeny Prigozhin had previously criticized the Russian war, which he considered ineffective. He is also considered a potential rival to Vladimir Putin.