The leader of the private company warned that Russian military positions surrounding the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine are in danger unless mercenaries from the Wagner Group receive ammo immediately.
In the most recent instance of friction between Moscow and the head of the militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin warned that Russia’s front lines close to Bakhmut may collapse if his soldiers did not receive the shells and rounds guaranteed by Moscow in late February.
Russian troops – from Wagner and regular Russian forces – are trying to seize the eastern city from Ukraine.
But Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has complained of a lack of ammunition, saying it could be “ordinary bureaucracy or a betrayal”. Relations between Wagner and Moscow seem increasingly tense.
A significant component of Moscow’s invasion is the Wagner group, which has tens of thousands of soldiers in Ukraine, some of whom were sourced directly from Russian jails.
In a post on Sunday, Mr Prigozhin stated that agreements had been made on February 22 and that ammunition would be delivered to Bakhmut the following day.
Yet the majority had not been shipped, he claimed, before speculating that it might be on purpose.
The top generals and defence leaders of Russia receive regular criticism from Prigozhin. He charged the defence minister Sergei Shoigu and others with “treason” last month for depriving his soldiers of ammunition.
“If Wagner retreats from Bakhmut now, the whole front will collapse,” Prigozhin stated. “The situation will not be sweet for all military formations protecting Russian interests.”
In a further indication of the divide, Mr Prigozhin claimed on Monday that his envoy was unable to enter the Russian military command headquarters. The location of the corporate headquarters is unknown.
According to Mr Prigozhin, it followed a letter he sent to Army General Valery Gerasimov, the commander of Russia’s “special military operation,” requesting munitions urgently.
After mobilising hundreds of thousands of reservists last year, a Russian victory in the town, which had a pre-war population of approximately 70,000, would offer it the first significant reward in an expensive winter offensive. According to Russia, it would be a necessary step towards achieving one of its top priorities, the conquest of the industrial region of the Donbas.
Yet, according to military analysts, Bakhmut, which has been all but completely devastated in the war, has little genuine strategic importance.
