Ukraine war: Wagner chief Prigozhin threatens to pull fighters from Bakhmut, blasts Russian defence minister in grisly video
- Wagner will pull out of Bakhmut on May 10, Prigozhin says, blaming lack of ammunition
- Expletive-laden video shows mercenary forces chief filmed in front of a field of corpses
The head of Russian paramilitary group Wagner on Friday said he would pull his fighters from the front line in Ukraine because of ammunition shortages, berating army chiefs in a grisly video.
“On May 10, 2023 we will have to hand over our positions in Bakhmut to units of the defence ministry and withdraw Wagner units to rear camps to lick our wounds,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a statement on Telegram.
“I will pull out Wagner units from Bakhmut because in the absence of ammunition they are facing a senseless death,” he said, adding that he was waiting for “orders to leave Bakhmut”.
It was not clear if his latest statement could be taken at face value, as Prigozhin has frequently posted impulsive comments in the past. Only last week he withdrew one statement he said he had made as a “joke”.
Wagner fighters have taken a leading role in Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, spearheading the months-long fight to capture Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine – the longest and bloodiest battle so far.
Earlier Prigozhin posted a video on Telegram showing rows of what he said were dead Wagner fighters.