The commander of the Russian private military group "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin revealed the expected date of the Ukrainian counterattack, accusing Russian "actors" of treason.
Prigozhin, in an audio recording, said that any counterattack by Ukrainian forces will not be, he believes, until after the second of next month, due to climate and rainy season considerations.
He also spoke of the existence of what he called "betrayal" within the structures of the Russian state. He accused certain parties, whose names he asserted, of complicating the acquisition of the necessary ammunition by Wagner's forces.
A COUNTEROFFENSIVE by the Armed Forces of Ukraine is inevitable, said the founder of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
"What is happening today with the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine?" Today it is raining. The last rain should fall on May 2. Therefore, it takes... pic.twitter.com/khA1eObpq6
— Spriter (@Spriter99880) April 27, 2023
Wagner relies on volunteers and mercenaries for its fighting strength, and many sources have revealed over the past months that the group, which is accused of war crimes and violations in a number of countries such as Syria, Libya and Central Africa, has been recruited as prisoners in Russian detention centers to fight in Ukraine.
Prigozhin has repeatedly accused Russian defence ministry sources of disrupting the supply of ammunition to his troops due to "bureaucracy or treason", blaming them for delaying the capture of the city of Pakhmut, where the fiercest fighting has been taking place for months.
He has also previously accused the Russian military police of obstructing access to the Wagner military post by newly joined forces. On the second of last month, the military police prevented the arrival of those joining his forces, and distributed them to various military units, he said.