– With Bakhmut Hanging In Balance, Will Putin Order Takedown Of Wagner Boss?:
The bizarre spat between Wagner mercenary group and the regular Russian military chain of command has continued exploding into public view, now reaching a full-blown crisis for Moscow as the fate of the Bakhmut front hangs in the balance.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed Friday that the Russian army is abandoning its positions near Bakhmut. “This is not called regrouping, this is fleeing,” he said in audio statement posted to Wagner’s social media channels.
He additionally alleged that Russian troops “simply went fleeing” from positions around the north and south of the strategic Donetsk city. “The flanks are failing. The front is collapsing,” he added.
But the defense ministry (MoD) was quick to reject the new assessment from Prigozhin, who this week has been begging for more ammunition, while threatening to pull his forces if resupplies continue to be blocked or falter. The MoD said their are units being regrouped and progress is being made.
Prigozhin retorted that “Attempts by the defense ministry in the information field to sugarcoat the situation – it’s leading and will lead to a global tragedy for Russia.” Prigozhin has previously called the generals “clowns”. Further according to statements from the Wagner chief this week:
“Those territories that were liberated with the blood and lives of our comrades … are abandoned today almost without any fight by those who are supposed to hold our flanks.”
Earlier in the week, Prigozhin marred Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations with public and foul-mouthed criticisms of the country’s top military officials.
“Today they [Ukrainians] are tearing up the flanks in the Artemovsk [Bakhmut] direction, regrouping at Zaporizhzhia. And a counteroffensive is about to begin,” he said Tuesday. “Victory Day is the victory of our grandfathers. We haven’t earned that victory one millimetre.”
Without doubt Prigozhin has seen his political star rise following Wagner’s spearheading victory in places like Soledar. He’s also a personal friend (and formerly his chef) of President Putin, but many are starting to ask: how far can Prigozhin go with his blasting both military and political leadership?
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