“Everything has been decided,” said Prigozhin, who announced the withdrawal of troops in early June.
Private army “Wagner”: the withdrawal of troops from Bakhmut
The Russian private Wagner army has nearly completed its announced withdrawal from the captured eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, according to its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. “99% of the units left the city,” Prigogine announced tonight.
“All positions have been handed over to the Ministry of Defense (of Russia) in the appropriate order.” “Everything has been decided,” said Prigozhin, who announced the withdrawal of troops in early June.
According to earlier statements, only two Wagners should remain to support the regular Russian army in its control of the city in the Donetsk region. According to Prigozhin, there were also no more “provocations” from the Ukrainian armed forces.
At the same time, he accused the Russian Ministry of Defense of having mined the retreat route of the Wagner troops. It came as a “surprise”. The head of Wagner repeatedly accused the ministry in Moscow of boycotting the work of the private army. However, as a rule, the agency ignores Prigozhin’s accusations.
The day before, the head of Wagner announced that his troops would be withdrawn from the line of hostilities, but would remain stationed in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. How far the change of position actually progressed could not be verified at first.
Battle for Bakhmut
Ukrainian army commander Oleksandr Syrsky announced on Thursday that his army had stopped fighting on the flanks of Bakhmut to attend to other tasks. However, Ukraine has not officially abandoned Bakhmut. The country wants to liberate its territories from Russian occupation in a major counteroffensive.
The battle for Bakhmut was fierce and costly for several months. In the struggle for the completely destroyed city, which once had a population of 70,000, a bitter struggle for power in the Russian military leadership has emerged in recent weeks. Prigozhin has repeatedly accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of not providing enough ammunition to his fighters.
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Top photo: Uncredited/PRIGOZHIN PRESS SERVICE/AP/dpa
