Has Yevgueni Prigojine crossed a point of no return? In five minute video, the boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner threatens, Friday, May 5, to withdraw from May 10 his fighters from the city of Bakhmout. Its troops have been engaged since last summer in a bloody battle for control of the city in eastern Ukraine, located in Donetsk Oblast, still partly held by the Ukrainian army.
“We were going to take the city of Bakhmout before May 9 [date célébrant la victoire sur l’Allemagne nazie en 1945]. When they saw this, the military bureaucrats stopped the deliveries” ammunition, accuses the businessman in this video published by his press service. “Therefore, from May 10, 2023, we will withdraw from Bakhmout”he adds, saying he refuses that ” (his) guys, without ammunition, suffer unnecessary and unjustified losses ». “We are waiting for an order to leave Bakhmout. We will be in Bakhmout until May 9 (…) Afterwards, we will go to the rear camps”he adds.
According to journalists following the activities of Vladimir Putin, “The Kremlin saw Prigozhin’s statement (…). No comment “.
Prigozhin announced Wagner PMC will leave Bakhmut on 10th May due to ammunition shortage caused by Russian military… https://t.co/SS5dbIveqj
Charge against Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov
In another particularly virulent video published overnight from Thursday to Friday, Mr. Prigozhin specifically accuses Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov of being responsible for the losses. of Wagner. Strolling among dozens of bodies presented as those of members of Wagner killed in action, he launches: “They died so you could fatten yourself up in your offices!” » His face contorted with rage and letting loose a shower of insults, he shouts: “Shougou! Gerasimov! Where are my fucking shells? ! »
This ultimatum comes after weeks of growing tensions between the Wagner group and the military. Mr. Prigojine regularly accuses the general staff of not providing enough ammunition to the Wagner group, on the front line in the battle of Bakhmout, to deprive it of a victory that would overshadow the regular army.
Wagner has suffered heavy losses in recent months trying to take the city of Bakhmout. The paramilitary group has conquered a large part of the city, but fails to take the last Ukrainian positions. If the Kremlin denies any tension within the Russian forces, the latest statements by Mr. Prigojine prove the opposite.
Mr. Prigojine accuses the Russian army command of not providing him with the ammunition he needs to prolong the battle of Bakhmout, in order to weaken Wagner and prevent him from winning a victory that would contrast with the humiliating reverses suffered in recent months by the regular forces.