Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has started withdrawing its forces from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and transferring its positions there to regular Russian troops, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published on Thursday.
“We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear. We are handing our positions to the military,” he said.
The video was posted on Telegram by his press service and showed Prigozhin dressed in battle gear and standing beside a damaged residential block.
Prigozhin announced the capture of Bakhmut on Saturday after the longest and bloodiest battle of the conflict.
In the latest video Prigozhin, who has repeatedly voiced public criticism of senior Russian defense officials, said his forces would be ready to return to Bakhmut if the regular army is unable to manage the situation.
Ukraine has said its forces were advancing around the edges of Bakhmut in a bid to encircle the city.
(With input from Reuters)
If you try us, we will lift you in the air and drop you in Jamaica to explain to the world why Putin is still fighting
Just be thinking who wrote this. no name no blame