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Ukraine’s claims of gains in the war for the destroyed eastern city of Bakhmut are being played out against the background of an increasing number of missives against Russian military leaders from Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner militia whose forces are already on the Russian front. fight for the city.
In recent days, Mr. Prigozhin has recorded a graphic and expletive-laden video accusing senior Russian generals of denying troops needed supplies, such as ammunition. On Tuesday, he appeared more offensive, releasing a video that some observers interpreted as a direct criticism of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Ukrainian weapons are “killing our soldiers, while happy grandfathers think everything will be fine for them,” Mr. Prigozhin said in the video. Mr Putin’s opponents usually refer to him as “grandfather”.
On Wednesday, Mr Prigozhin said “grandfather” was referring to an unnamed senior Russian military official. Mr Prigozhin, a tycoon who made his fortune partly through Kremlin catering contracts, has been careful to avoid direct criticism of Mr Putin.
The 11-month battle for Bakhmut has acquired a symbolic meaning for both sides that goes beyond the city’s immediate strategic value. Russia and Ukraine have poured in troops and sustained many casualties, although military experts say that the casualties have been more for Russian forces than for Ukraine.
Last week, Mr Prigozhin threatened to withdraw his forces from Bakhmut because of insufficient ammunition, released a video showing him walking among the bodies of what he claimed were Wagner fighters killed in the battle for the city and accused top Russian defense officials of name. death. He later walked back the threat, saying he had been promised more ammunition, but in a video released on Tuesday, he repeated his complaint about the lack of supplies.
He warned that the Ukrainian forces were gathering forces for an anticipated counterattack and that he was doing his best to make the Russian front collapse, although he claimed that Wagner’s fighters continued to advance on the city of Bakhmut itself.
“Today they are tearing up the flanks in the direction of Artemovsk,” he said, using the Russian name for Bakhmut. “They are regrouping in Zaporizhzhia, and in the near future the counterattack will begin.” Zaporizhzhia is one of two regions in southern Ukraine that Russian forces have partially taken control of since launching a full-scale invasion last year.
Despite the dispute over ammunition supplies, Mr Prigozhin said his troops would continue to fight in Bakhmut until then. “We will continue to push for a few more days,” he said. “Let’s fight.”
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