Wagner mercenary boss says Russia bombed his troops

The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group has accused the country's military of launching a strike on his troops, claims that mark an astonishing escalation of infighting inside Russia.

Yevgeny Prigozhin said a "huge number" of his fighters had been killed and vowed to punish those responsible.

It follows an earlier tirade in which Prigozhin blamed Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu for starting the war in Ukraine.

Moscow denied attacking Wagner forces.

In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that "all reports by Prigozhin spread on social media" of Russian strikes on Wagner camps were "not true and are an information provocation".

The Wagner Group is a paramilitary organisation that has been fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. In recent months, Prigozhin has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Russia's military leadership.

In an audio message posted to Telegram, he said "the evil which the Russian military leadership carries must be stopped".

"Those who killed our lads, and tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers [in the war in Ukraine] will be punished," he said.

"I ask you not to resist. Anyone who does will be considered a threat and destroyed. That goes for any checkpoints and aviation on our way.

"Presidential power, the government, the police and Russian guard will work as usual. We will deal with those who destroy Russian soldiers and then return to the front."