The paramilitary group known as Wagner has announced its withdrawal from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after months of intense fighting. The group’s commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, attributed the withdrawal to a shortage of ammunition, which he blames on the Russian Defense Ministry.
Wagner Group is a private military contractor believed to be closely linked to the Russian government. It has been involved in numerous conflicts around the world, including Syria, Libya, and Ukraine. In Ukraine, the group has been fighting on the side of Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The battle for Bakhmut, a strategically important city located in the Donetsk region, has been one of the longest and most violent of the war so far. Wagner Group has been leading the fight to take the city, but the lack of ammunition has made the group vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks.
According to Prigozhin, the losses suffered by the group would have been much less if they had access to enough ammunition. In a video released by the group, Prigozhin can be seen standing among corpses and criticizing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in very offensive terms for the losses Wagner suffered in Ukraine.
It is not clear why the Russian Defense Ministry has not provided sufficient ammunition to Wagner Group. Some analysts speculate that the ministry may be trying to distance itself from the group, which has become a liability for the Russian government.
After Wagner’s withdrawal, Russia’s armed forces will take over the group’s positions in Bakhmut.
In conclusion, the withdrawal of Wagner Group from Bakhmut due to a shortage of ammunition is a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.