Wagner’s private Russian army has almost completed its announced withdrawal from the captured eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said. Prigozhin announced on Friday evening that 99 percent of the units had left the city. “All positions have been handed over to the (Russian) Ministry of Defense in sequence.” Everything has been clarified, said Prigozhin, who had announced the withdrawal for early June.
According to previous information, only two Wagner men will remain to support the regular Russian army in taking control of the city in the Donetsk region. There have also been no more “provocations” by the Ukrainian armed forces, Prigozhin said.
Situation in Bachmut very unclear
The day before, the Wagner boss had stated that his troops would be withdrawn from the battle line, but would remain stationed in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Initially, it was not possible to independently check how far the job change had actually progressed.
Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on Thursday that his army had ceased fighting on Bakhmut’s flanks to take on other tasks. Ukraine has not officially given up on Bakhmut. The country wants to liberate its territories from Russian occupation as part of a major counter-offensive.
Fierce and losing battles
For months Bachmut had been fought bitterly and with great losses. In the battle for the completely destroyed city, which once had 70,000 inhabitants, fierce power struggles within the Russian military leadership have also come to light in recent weeks. Prigozhin repeatedly accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of not supplying his fighters with sufficient ammunition.
Source: Krone
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