Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said Tuesday that he had received a letter from Russia’s Defense Ministry threatening to charge his mercenary outfit with treason if they withdrew from Bakhmut, for months the focal point of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a video published on the messaging app Telegram as Russia kicked off Victory Day celebrations, he also claimed that Wagner fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the Russian military.
“They simply and brazenly deceived us,” he said.
Prigozhin last week threatened to pull his mercenaries out of Bakhmut after suffering losses due to ammunition shortages, but on Sunday he said that he had received a "promise" of more ammunition from the Russian army.
Wagner has taken a leading role in the fighting for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut since the summer of 2022, which has still not been fully seized by Russia despite the loss of thousands of lives on both sides.
In the Tuesday video, Prigozhin also claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city because of “stupid” and “criminal” orders handed down by senior military commanders.
"Soldiers should not die because of the absolute stupidity of their leadership,” he said.
Prigozhin claimed Ukrainian forces were currently “tearing up the flanks” in Bakhmut, while also regrouping in nearby Zaporizhzhia to launch a long-anticipated counter-offensive.
“They are absolutely clear: the counter-offensive will be on the ground, not on television,” Prigozhin warned.
However, Prigozhin said Wagner fighters will not leave Bakhmut for the time being.
“Let’s fight, and then we’ll figure it out,” he said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
