Analysts have long spoken of tensions between the military and Wagner’s private group of mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, but what has happened in the past 24 hours in Soledar, a Ukrainian town that the Russian oligarch has been quick to claim, while officials in Moscow have been more reserved in his statements, this more and more clearly indicates the split that has arisen among the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, says the correspondent BBC in Moscow, cites News.ro.

Russia’s defense ministry said its troops were engaged in the battle for Soledar, a mining town north of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine that is at the center of fierce fighting.

The clarification came after Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the notoriously brutal Wagner mercenary group, said his fighters were in full control of Soledar and boasted that only his troops had taken part in the capture of the city.

Prigozhin is likely to use any victory to reinforce Wagner’s reputation as an effective fighting force in the eyes of Vladimir Putin. However, the Ministry of Defense of Russia seems to have denied the statement of the scandalous oligarch.

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Spokesman Ihor Konashenkov stated that “Soledar is blocked from the north and south by units of the Russian Air Force. The Russian Air Force is striking enemy strongholds. Paratroopers are taking part in the battles inside the city,” Konashenkov said without elaborating. any mention of Wagner’s powers.

On the other hand, the Kremlin also appeared restrained and avoided saying that Soledar was in full control of his forces. “We will not rush, we will wait for official statements. Positive dynamics are underway,” said the press secretary of the Kremlin Dmytro Peskov.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also reported on Wednesday that fierce fighting continues and the forces of the “Wagner” PMK failed to break through its defenses.

If Soledar disappears, it will be an ace up Prigozhin’s sleeve. In a statement released Tuesday night, he boasted that “no other unit was involved in the assault on Soledar apart from Wagner.” Late in the evening, after President Zelensky announced that Soledar was still holding, Prigozhin also returned and reported that his forces had completely liberated Soledar and killed 500 Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukrainian and American officials have said that indeed Wagner’s units make up a significant portion of the forces fighting in the area, but analysts have long spoken of tensions between the military and Wagner.

Prigozhin publicly criticized the Russian generals for not being aware of the realities of the war in Ukraine. Although it is difficult to know with certainty whether an internal struggle is taking place in the corridors of power, there are some signs, the BBC writes.

The TASS news agency reported on Tuesday that Colonel-General Oleksandr Lapin has been appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces. The Russian press, citing sources, claimed that the statement about the position of General Lapin – he was one of those criticized by Prigozhin last year – was made as a warning to the oligarch: do not mess with the army! BBC Moscow correspondent Will Vernon reports this.

But on the other hand, many in Moscow were quick to praise Prigozhin and his Wagner group for their apparent progress in Soledar. Influential propagandist Margarita Simonyan said how “polite” Prigozhin was, ending her praise with thanks to Wagner’s soldiers. “My dears!” she greeted him.

Pro-Kremlin military bloggers also praised the group of mercenaries on Telegram. The blogger thanked them for “the emotions they gave tonight.”

Another notes: “When Soledar and (Bakhmut) are released, it will be a new chapter in Russian military history. This is the first time a private military company has shown such results in a high-intensity military conflict.”

The strategic importance of the city of Soledar is denied by military analysts. But if Russian troops manage to establish full control over the city, it will certainly be a symbolic victory for the Kremlin. This is due to the fact that since the summer of 2022, the Moscow troops have not managed to capture any significant city from the Ukrainian troops. (News.ro)

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