The head of the mercenary group leading Russia’s struggling offensive in eastern Ukraine, Yevgeny Prigozhin said Friday that his fighters will withdraw from the high-profile battle for Bakhmut because of a lack of military support.
Prigozhin’s sudden announcement marked the latest dramatic escalation in his feud with Moscow’s military leadership.
It followed a furious tirade in which he appeared to be surrounded by bodies as he blamed defense chiefs for the heavy losses suffered by his Wagner Group fighters.
He said he would hand over control of Bakhmut offensive to Russian army forces next week because of a shortage of ammunition supplies.
“I am withdrawing the units of PMC Wagner from Bakhmut because, in the absence of ammunition, they are doomed to senseless death,” Prigozhin said, adding that his fighters would withdraw to camps Wednesday to “lick our wounds.”
Visibly angry, he said his fighters were drastically short of ammunition, leading to a direct increase in casualties.
Ukraine chose last month to reinforce its defenses in Bakhmut rather than surrender the city, hoping to inflict crucial losses on Russian forces ahead of a counteroffensive.
Prigozhin, who is known as “Putin’s chef” for his ties to the Russian leader and his past as a Kremlin caterer, made his announcement dressed in full army fatigues, with an assault rifle hanging from his shoulder.
The video was accompanied by a statement addressed to the head of the Russian general staff, the Defense Ministry and President Vladimir Putin himself.
The Kremlin said it had seen his announcement but could not comment.
Wagner fighters have led the Russian assault on Bakhmut, a monthslong campaign that has turned into the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.
The city has taken on a symbolic value that may outweigh its strategic importance, though Prigozhin has long accused Russian military leaders of ignoring his requests for more ammunition and other means of support.
