Chief Wagner in Bakhmut: – Desperate attempt to project himself

Portrait of the leader of the Russian Wagner Group showing him at a famous monument. The Ukrainian flag was lowered, but not the Russian flag that the mercenaries hung.

Wagner mercenaries stand in front of a Soviet tank monument in Bakhmut. It must show that they are about to take the city, which is often referred to as a “meat grinder”, due to the huge number of dead soldiers.

The Ukrainian flag has been removed from the memorial. But instead of the Russian flag, the flag of the Wagner Group was raised.

– a new example of a desperate attempt to highlight oneself, says Lieutenant Colonel and Head of School at the Norwegian Defense Academy, Geir Hagen Carlsen.

This is also how the image is interpreted on Twitter.

An anonymous account named “Tendar”, which actively updates its followers on developments in the war writing this: “It is clear that these mercenaries are fighting for the oligarchs, and not for Russia or the Russian army.”

Shown in the photo is the founder of the group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. VG examined the photo by comparing it to other photos of the monument, which show it was taken where Wagner claims it is.

The renowned Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has at Thursday summary Image values ​​It is believed that Prigogine’s presence in Bakhmut is confirmed, among other things, by that image.

Financial Times war correspondent Christopher Miller did, too Post the photo on Twitter And he writes:

“The Russian Wagnerian warlord Prigozhin posted a picture of himself and his mercenaries at the Soviet tank monument in eastern Bakhmut (…) 800 meters from the city center”.

The ISW believes that the Wagner Group and other Russian forces now control about 50 percent of Bakhmut, but still have not captured the entire city.

A few days ago, the head of Wagner also published a video supposedly shot outside Bakhmut, which was brought back by Reuters news agency and shown to BBC.

Prigozhin appears to be in increasing conflict with the rest of Russia’s defensive leadership.

– I interpret it this way: The Wagner Group was very important to the Russian war last fall. Since then, the Wagner group has lost many soldiers, while the Russian army has been intensively mobilizing. Carlsen says Wagner is less important now

– At the same time, Prigozhin made many enemies, both in St. Petersburg, where he is based, and in the Defense Command and the Ministry of Defense. His presence at the front, he explains, is to gain attention and influence, in a situation where the group is about to play their part.

For several months now, there have been very bloody battles in the city of Bakhmut, in which both sides have suffered huge losses.

Last week, Wagner’s commander complained that the group was short of ammunition, blaming the regular army.

– If Wagner withdraws from Bakhmut now, the whole front will collapse. It will not be a good situation for all military formations that defend Russian interests, Prigozhin said in a video posted on Telegram.

He claimed that the ammunition that the Russian authorities had promised the Wagner Group had not been delivered.

– We’re trying to find the reason. He added: Either it is just ordinary bureaucracy or treason.

Claims that they control “everything east of the river”

The Wagner Group claims to have complete control over the eastern part of Bakhmut.

– Prigozhin said in an audio recording on his Telegram page in his press service on Wednesday of this week that units of the Wagner PMC took control of the eastern part of Bakhmut.

– Everything east of the Bhakmutka River is under Wagner’s control, he adds.

The information has not been confirmed by Ukraine or independent sources. Prigozhin had previously made claims about the advance on the battlefield which were proven false.

On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu designated Bakhmut as Russia’s main city.

– He said that this city is important for the ability of the Ukrainian forces to defend themselves in the Donbass.