“Today there is no one left.” Alexandre Zlodeev is a former member of the Russian-affiliated Wagner paramilitary group, which he left in 2017. Seeking asylum in France, he gave France Inter his analysis of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring the importance of Wagner’s soldiers. on the ground, but also the poor posture in which Moscow currently finds itself.
This group, which employs mercenaries, has been suspected for years by Westerners of carrying out Russia’s grassroots work in various theaters of operations, which the Kremlin has always denied. In any case, they have been fighting alongside the Russian army since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
“Some units have lost up to 80% of their men”
According to Alexander Zlodeev, “all” Moscow’s victories in Ukraine “were achieved thanks to the fighters of the Wagner group – it is thanks to them that the Russians still somehow manage to advance”, because their members are more experienced and have their own weaponry. . explains the veteran. Alexander Zlodeev This is how he declares for his part that he fought with Wagner in Ukraine in 2015 and in Syria in 2016.
But now, according to his contacts on the ground, Russian troops are suffering “heavy losses” and “I am told that some units have lost up to 80% of their men.”
Asked about the possibility of Russia winning this war, he replied in the negative: “There is no [pour les Russes] There is no way to win this war today! The same with Wagner’s men. To win, we would have to multiply the number of Wagner’s fighters by hundreds”, or “since Wagner was created, many of the most experienced fighters have been killed. Today there is no one left.”
Launched several weeks ago, the Ukrainian counteroffensive is gradually pushing back Russian troops. On Wednesday, the Russian occupation administration in Kherson launched the evacuation of the city in the face of Kyiv’s advance in the region.
Source: BFM TV
