Moscow - (AFP) - Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian mercenary group "Wagner", praised the effectiveness of his forces in Ukraine, where they are often active in competition with the Russian army, stressing their "independence" and their submission to "fierce discipline".

Prigozhin explained in a video released by his media on Saturday evening the reasons that allowed his fighters to take control of the city of Solidar in eastern Ukraine, which Kiev still denies its fall.

Prigozhin confirmed that his fighters are experienced in combat and "achieve all their goals independently" because they have their own planes, artillery and armored vehicles.

"The most important thing is the leadership system, which has been fully developed," he said, stressing that " the Wagner Group listens to everyone, and everyone can express his opinion."

But "after a decision is made, all missions are carried out, no one can turn back. What gives us this possibility is the fiercest discipline," he explained in the video, in which he appears in a spotted suit with a man identified as Wagner's commander in the Battle of Solidar. .

Prigozhin's comments appear to be a new veiled criticism of Russia's top military leadership at a time when it faces accusations, including from some supporters of President Vladimir Putin, of a lack of coordination and detachment from the reality on the ground.

Prigozhin repeatedly criticized the leaders of the Russian forces over the past months, especially when Ukraine achieved military victories in the regions of Kharkiv (east) and Kherson (south).

On Friday, the Russian army announced the control of the city of Solidar, without mentioning the Wagner fighters in the first stage, which prompted Prigozhin to denounce, through his media, the "continuous attempts to rob the victories" of his group.

In a rare gesture, the Russian Ministry of Defense later published a statement praising the "courage" of Wagner's operatives in Solidar.

The Wagner Group, founded in 2014, has recruited thousands of prisoners to fight in Russia in exchange for reduced sentences.

In an indication of his escalating influence, Prigozhin, 61, admitted in September that he is the founder of Wagner, after he had denied it for years. He regularly visits the Ukrainian Front and makes statements actively through his media.