Russia seeks new private army to replace Wagner Group.

The British defense ministry has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely searching for alternative mercenary groups to replace the Wagner fighters in Ukraine. The ministry said that private military companies are "less constrained" by poor pay and "inefficiency" that afflict Russia's formal military. The Wagner Group fighters have been heavily involved in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, most notably in Moscow's efforts to take the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut. The head of the Wagner Group, Russian billionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin, is a long-time associate of the Kremlin leader, having previously earned the nickname of "Putin's chef."