This article was last updated on May 5, 2023
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Leader of Russian Mercenary Army hands over position to Russian army
The leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary army says his troops are withdrawing from Bachmut, the city in eastern Ukraine that has been fighting for months. On Wednesday, the positions of the Wagner commandos will be handed over to the Russian army, says a white-hot Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video.
Withdrawal Due to Insufficient Ammunition
“My boys will no longer suffer useless and unjustified losses in Bachmut,” Prigozhin said in the video, addressed to the army command. “If, because of your petty jealousy, you do not want to give the Russian people the victory of taking Bachmut, then that is your problem.”
Threats of Withdrawal Not New
It is not clear whether Prigozhin means it this time. In the past, he has often threatened in a frenzy to withdraw his troops, because his men are killed due to a lack of ammunition. Last week he also threatened to do so, but he later retracted that statement, saying it was “a joke”.
Correspondent’s Insights
“Prigozhin says they have insufficient ammunition. He has been saying that for a long time. He says that he has written several letters to the army command about this, but that there has always been no answer.
According to Prigozhin, this is because the army command in Moscow wants to take the credit itself, while according to him Wagner has done the dirty work in and around Bachmut and in other places as well.
Wagner Group Active in Other Countries
The Wagner group is not only active in Ukraine, but also in various African countries. Prigozhin also said in his video that he brought his men from Africa and other countries to join the fighting in Ukraine. They will certainly remain active in many other places on the front in Ukraine.”
Symbolic Significance of Bachmut
Wagner has been trying to get hold of Bachmut since last summer. The city has taken on great symbolic significance for both Ukrainian and Russian troops due to the intensity and duration of the fighting in the area.
Lack of Support from Russian Military Leadership
Wagner’s mercenaries fight alongside the Russian army. Three weeks ago, Wagner leader Prigozhin said his men had captured more than 80 percent of the city. But the Ukrainian army holds up and Prigozhin has become increasingly angry about what he describes as a lack of support from the Russian military leadership. Last week, the Kremlin fired a deputy minister responsible for supplying the army.
New Video Raises Questions
The move apparently did not assuage Prigozhin’s anger. Another video appeared earlier today, in which he can be seen next to the corpses of dozens of fallen Wagner fighters.
Kremlin Refuses to Comment on Video
“Shoygu, Gerasimov, where the hell is the ammunition?” Prigozhin yells at Russian Defense Minister Shoigu and army chief Gerasimov:
Wagner chief furious at army command: “Where the hell is the ammunition?”
The Kremlin refuses to comment on the latest video of the Wagner leader. “We have of course seen this in the media,” said spokesman Peskov. “But I can’t comment on it because it’s about the conduct of the special military operation.”
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