Russia‘s most powerful mercenary, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on Wednesday that he had asked prosecutors to investigate whether senior Russian defence officials had committed any “crime” before or during the war in Ukraine. The Wagner chief’s request is his most blatant public challenge to date against Russia’s President Vladimir Putin‘s military brass, defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov. The 61-year-old has spent months insulting both Shoigu and Gerasimov, who are leading Russia’s war effort, for alleged treachery. Neither has responded publicly to his criticism. The defence ministry also declined comment.