Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group, wrote a letter to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, inviting him to visit Bakhmut territory to “assess the situation for himself”.
“I request that you move to the Bakhmut area, which is controlled by paramilitary units [da Federação Russa]and that he judges the situation for himself,” Prigozhin said in the letter published Thursday on the Telegram social network, as reported today by CNN International.
“Currently, Wagner units control more than 95% of Bakhmut and continue the offensive for complete liberation. On the flanks, where forces are located [da Federação Russa]the enemy launched a series of successful counter-attacks”.
It should be noted that the leader of the Wagner group has increasingly complained about the lack of ammunition on the battle front, which has aroused harsh criticism of those responsible for the Russian armed forces.
Kiev calls for progress in Bakhmut
Prigozhin’s invitation to Russia’s defense minister comes at a time when Ukrainian authorities are calling for significant progress in the outskirts of the cities of Bakhmut
“The enemy has suffered great losses. Our forces have advanced two kilometers near Bakhmut. We have not lost any positions in the city this week,” Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar said in a statement Friday.
However, Russia denied on Thursday that Ukraine had made progress in Bakhmut, saying reports of territorial losses around the city “do not correspond to reality”.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War said in an analysis published Friday that Kiev “likely broke through some Russian lines during counter-attacks near Bakhmut”.
With AFP
Source: DN
