Ukraine: Wagner asks Moscow to hand over its positions in Bakhmut to Chechen troops

Wagner's conductor, Yevgeny Prigozhin, makes a statement alongside Wagner fighters, in this still image from a video released on May 5, 2023. via REUTERS - PRESS SERVICE OF "CONCORD\

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The leader of the paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, asked the Russian Minister of Defense on Saturday, May 6, to entrust the troops of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov with his positions in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which he announced he would soon leave to protest against a lack of ammunition.

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I ask you to issue a battle order on the transfer, before midnight on May 10, of the positions of the Wagner Group to the units of the Akhmat battalion in the locality of Bakhmut and its surroundings. " said Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a letter published by his press service addressed to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday, May 6. The head of Wagner said he made this request "because of a long shortage of ammunition", accusing the General Staff of having provided him with only 32% of the ammunition requested since last October.

The day before, Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened to withdraw his troops next week from the city of Bakhmut, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine, because of the lack of ammunition. A few hours later, on Telegram, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov claimed that his fighters were ready to occupy Russian positions in the city, if the Wagner Group actually withdrew its units. "Our fighters are ready to step forward and occupy the city. It would take a few hours," Kadyrov said, adding that his troops had already fought alongside Wagner's in the Ukrainian cities of Popasna, Severodonetsk and Lisychansk, which were conquered by Russia.

► READ ALSO: Ukraine: on the front, the forces of Kiev doubt a possible Russian withdrawal of Bakhmout

On Saturday morning, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a separate message, thanked Ramzan Kadyrov for his proposal, assuring that Bakhmut, who has resisted Russian assaults since last summer, would be "taken without a doubt" by Chechen troops.

Wagner's chief had for months accused the Russian General Staff of not providing enough ammunition to his men in order to deprive them of a victory at Bakhmut, which would overshadow the regular army.

"Wagner is a tool"

Yevgeny Prigogin, in fact, is trying to withdraw from Bakhmut on all pretexts because he no longer finds his account, analyzes General Jean-Paul Palomeros, former chief of staff of the air force. "It doesn't bring anything" to Prigozhin, he said.

Jean-Paul Palomeros, former Chief of Staff of the French Air Force

► READ ALSO: Russia: for Prigozhin, stop the special operation would be "the best option"

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