Prigozhin claims Russian defense ministry wanted Wagner to "cease to exist" starting on July 1

Members of the Wagner Group sit atop a tank in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on Saturday, June 24. AP

The Russian Defense Ministry had planned for Wagner private military group to "cease to exist" starting on July 1, the group's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed Monday in an audio message.

"No one agreed to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry, since everyone knows very well from the current situation and their experience during the special military operation that this will lead to a complete loss of combat capability," Prigozhin said in the audio message. 

But then he proceeded to say that some fighters did sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense, but claimed that it was only a minimal number.

"Those fighters who decided that they were ready to move to the Ministry of Defense did so. But this is the minimum number, estimated at 1-2%. All the arguments to keep PMC Wagner were presented, but none were implemented," he said.