“I am withdrawing the Wagner units from Bakhmut, because without ammunition they are doomed to senseless death,” the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced on Friday in a disturbing video showing dozens of corpses. According to reports, preparations for the withdrawal are already underway. The Wagner mercenaries could now be replaced by fighters from the Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov.
Because Kadyrov had stated in an offer that his troop “Akhmat” could take over the positions of the Wagner mercenaries in the heavily contested Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Prigozhin’s press service announced on Telegram on Saturday that it would accept a transfer offer from the head of the Russian republic. A letter was also sent to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu asking Prigozhin to issue an order for the transfer of the positions to Kadyrov’s men. This operation should be completed by midnight next Wednesday, it said.
Power struggle in the Russian military leadership
More than a year after the start of the offensive war against Ukraine, an open power struggle is raging within the Russian military leadership. Prigozhin recently repeatedly complained publicly about an alleged lack of ammunition. The Russian army, which fought alongside Wagner’s troops in the Bakhmut region in extremely costly battles, has still not commented on Prigozhin’s threats and accusations. The Ministry of Defense was already silent on Friday. Instead, the authority announced – without explicit reference to Prigozhin – that Shoigu had ordered arms deliveries to the combat zone to be kept under “special control”.
Three Russian pilots traded for 45 Ukrainian soldiers
While there was no comment on Prigozhin’s threats, the defense ministry in Moscow said on Saturday that another prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine had taken place. “As a result of a difficult negotiation process,” three Air Force pilots were released. In Kiev, there was talk of 45 soldiers being released from Russian captivity in return.
These are 42 men and three women who defended the port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov until it fell last spring, the head of the Ukrainian presidential bureau, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram. The exchange differs from many in the past in that about equal numbers of Russians and Ukrainians returned.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
