Vladimir Putin claims that Russia is resisting the counter-offensive and that Ukraine has no chance.
Now the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, says that the information is incorrect – and that the Russian forces are in fact retreating.
– We bathe in blood, he says on social media.
The head of the paramilitary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is once again criticizing the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has recently spoken out about the Ukrainian counter-offensive where he claimed, among other things, that Ukraine “has no chance” and that the country is suffering “catastrophic” losses, information that is now contradicted by Prigozhin.
– On the ground, the Russian army retreats on the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson fronts. Ukraine’s armed forces are pushing back the Russian army, he said in a statement on social media.
“It’s gross fraud”
According to Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s claims do not match reality at all. According to the Wagner chief, the Ukrainian soldiers are advancing and pushing back the Russian troops.
– We bathe in blood. There will be no reservists. What they are telling us is gross fraud, he says.
– The president receives reports that do not correspond to reality in any way. There are two agendas, one on the ground and one on the president’s desk.
Prigozhin comes down hard on the Defense Department, saying Russia cannot win the war because of poor leadership and too few military successes.
– It is a poorly planned operation, with a few exercises in advance, he says.
The fight continues
It is not the first time that the leader of the Wagner group directs sharp criticism at the Russian leadership. During the battles around Bachmut, he threatened, among other things, to withdraw his troops due to a lack of ammunition.
He has also accused the Russian army of trying to blow up Wagner Group soldiers by placing mines around Bachmut.