Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner’s mercenary group in Russia, accused regular Russian army units on Thursday of retreating 570 meters north of the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, leaving the flanks of his own fighters exposed, Reuters reported. This is not the first time he has made such accusations.
The Russian oligarch, who has repeatedly accused Russia’s military leadership of not doing enough to support its people, has urged the Defense Ministry to keep its flanks in Bakhmut open after what he claims is the withdrawal of regular troops.
“Unfortunately, Russian Defense Ministry units retreated 570 meters north of Bakhmut, exposing our flanks,” Prigozhin said in a voice message, news.ro reports.
“I am addressing the top management of the Ministry of Defense – publicly – because my letters are not being read,” Prigozhin added, referring to his previous written requests.
“Please don’t give up the flanks,” he asked, addressing Russian Defense Minister Serhiy Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff, commander of the operation in Ukraine Valery Gerasimov.
Wagner’s troops led the assault on Bakhmut, the scene of one of the bloodiest and longest battles of the war, and in recent months the regular army provided some support for Prigozhin’s mercenaries.
Wagner claims to have conquered most of the ruined city – albeit at great human cost. However, in recent days, Ukraine says its troops have retaken territory around Bakhmut.
Moscow views Bakhmut, a town of about 70,000 before the war, as a potential stepping stone to take over the rest of the industrial Donbas in the east of the country, which borders Russia.
Reuters said it could not verify Prigozhin’s statement, and there was no immediate comment from the Russian Defense Ministry.
In another post on the Telegram account of the press service of the Concord company, which is associated with the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Prigozhin said that he did not see anyone from the Russian Ministry of Defense in Bakhmut, because this city “is not on the list.” list of tourist routes”, answering the question of Russian television, whether Shoigu is expected to the east of Ukraine, after information appeared that the Russian minister would visit Mariupol.
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Source: Hot News
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