New York (Dagbladet): Last week, Russian forces were forced to withdraw from certain locations outside of Bakhmut following a Ukrainian offensive in the area.
The Russian Ministry of Defense itself admits that it has withdrawn “to some extent”, but claims that Russian forces have now established “new and better positions”. Prigozhin described the withdrawal as chaotic.
On Friday, he launched his strongest attack on Russia’s Defense Command yet.
And in a video, Prigozhin literally shouted for more ammunition, calling Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Defense Chief Valery Gerasimov “scum”. At the same time, there were twenty corpses at his feet.
Messenger of Hell
in leaked intelligence documents Washington Post He was granted access, and it also seems to have been said to have offered Ukraine defense information about where they could attack Russian soldiers during the retreat.
Big losses
Prigozhin leads the mercenaries of the notorious Wagner Group, which is fighting on the side of Russia and President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. The Wagner Group itself is said to have suffered heavy losses in the battles around Bakhmut, which is said to have been one of the bloodiest wars to date.
– Can’t find an explanation
Prigozhin’s somewhat extraordinary offer to Ukraine reportedly came at the end of January while thousands of his mercenaries were being massacred in the city. The offer is said to have reached his contacts in Ukraine’s military intelligence.
Prigozhin allegedly kept in touch with Ukrainian intelligence throughout the war, according to US intelligence documents, which were allegedly leaked in a Discord group chat earlier this year.
Recently, Prigozhin has been publicly arguing with Russian military leaders. He is said to be angry that his mercenaries were not given the necessary supplies.
Confirm connection
Two Ukrainian officials confirmed to The Washington Post that Prigozhin spoke several times with Ukrainian intelligence. One of them also says that he was said to have made an offer to provide information on Russian soldiers several times, but this was turned down by the Ukrainian authorities because they did not trust him. They suspect that the offer was made with dishonest intentions.
US authorities question the motive behind this offer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this was an intelligence matter and declined to comment further on the information when interviewed by The Washington Post earlier in May.
Prigozhin has been out in public lately looking very angry and frustrated by the fighting in Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. It is believed that the Russian authorities did not provide his mercenaries with sufficient ammunition and other equipment.
Morale collapsed
He originally promised to take over the city by May 9, the day Russia celebrates its victory in World War II with grand military parades. However, he recently threatened to withdraw his mercenaries from the fight. The documents also show how Prigozhin was aware of the extent of morale among Wagner’s soldiers, and that some refused to follow orders.
Another leaked document from the Russian Defense Ministry shows how they were unsure how to respond to Prigozhin’s criticism.
When Prigozhin was informed that US intelligence documents revealed that he had been in contact with Ukrainian intelligence, he confirmed it.
– Yes, of course, I can confirm this information. We have nothing to hide from foreign special services, he writes on his Telegram channel.
However, he does not comment on the information that he is said to have provided information about Russian soldiers to Ukraine.
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