Putin ‘running out of convicts’

RUSSIA is running out of convicts to throw into its ‘meat grinder’ operation to seize territory in eastern Ukraine, say Western officials.

Thousands of prisoners were recruited by the Wagner private army, which is spearheading a fierce assault on the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk.

Up to 30,000 Russians have been killed or wounded – many from the poorly armed and trained Wagner group. A Western official said: ‘Wagner isn’t getting what it wants. It is running out of prisoners. We’re not seeing mass reserves.’