The main Russian mercenary group announced on Friday that they would be withdrawing from the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. However, Ukrainian officials claimed that the mercenaries were actually fortifying their positions in an attempt to seize the city before Russia celebrates WWII Victory Day the following week.
Leader of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin said his troops were out of ammunition and that they expected the army to replace them in Bakhmut on the following Wednesday, putting in jeopardy Russia’s long-term primary target in its attempt to carve up its neighbor.
Prigozhin said in a video that accompanied his written withdrawal announcement to military leaders and President Vladimir Putin, “My lads will not suffer useless and unjustified losses in Bakhmut without ammunition.”
Wagner’s target date to capture the city was May 9, the day of the World War Two commemoration, but “bureaucrats” held back supplies anyway, according to Prigozhin’s video. “If, because of your petty jealousy, you do not want to give the Russian people the victory of taking Bakhmut, that’s your problem,” he said.
Later, it was reported by the state-owned RIA news agency that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had instructed one of his deputies to guarantee that troops had all the necessary weapons.
The Kremlin has remained silent in the face of Prigozhin’s accusations.
