Devendra Kumar
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, announced on Friday that his forces would withdraw from their months-long assault on Bakhmut, a devastated city in eastern Ukraine. Prigozhin claimed that his men had been starved of ammunition and had suffered “useless and unjustified” losses, citing the lack of support from Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu and the top army brass. He also alleged that officials in Moscow were consumed by “petty jealousy” and withholding crucial supplies from his fighters.
However, in an audio message posted on his Telegram channel on Sunday, Prigozhin said that overnight he received a combat order to continue the operation, promising enough ammunition and weapons to complete further operations. He also stated that the necessary supplies would be deployed on the flank to prevent the enemy from cutting off their supplies. This sudden change in plans suggests that Prigozhin’s forces may not be withdrawing from Bakhmut after all.
The battle for Bakhmut has been one of the most intense and bloody conflicts of the ongoing war, with thousands of lives lost on both sides. Ukraine’s troops have been pushed back in recent weeks, but they have managed to cling on to the city, inflicting significant Russian casualties. Prigozhin’s decision to reconsider his withdrawal plan may be an attempt to salvage the situation and capture the city, which is seen as a crucial stepping stone to other cities in Ukraine’s Donbas region still beyond Russian control.
Prigozhin also announced on Sunday that Russia’s defense ministry had assigned general Sergei Surovikin to work alongside Wagner. Surovikin has previous experience as the commander of Russia’s Ukraine campaign, and Prigozhin praised him as the only man with the star of an army general who knows how to fight. This development may indicate a new level of coordination and support between Wagner and the Russian military, which could have significant implications for the ongoing conflict.
Prigozhin’s change of heart regarding the withdrawal from Bakhmut suggests that the battle for the city is far from over. The Russian mercenary leader’s forces may have received the necessary supplies and support to continue their operation, and the city remains a crucial prize for both sides in the conflict. As the war grinds on, Prigozhin’s decision will have significant implications for the outcome of the battle and the overall trajectory of the conflict.