Posted on 03/06/2023 9:22:36 AM PST by jerod
The founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary force has said his troops now tightening their grip on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut are being deprived of ammunition and that, if they are forced to retreat, the entire front will collapse.
Yevgeny Prigozhin had said on Friday that his units had "practically surrounded Bakhmut," where fighting has intensified in the past week after months of attritional warfare, with Russian forces attacking from three sides.
Wagner often appears to operate autonomously from the regular army, or even in competition with it, and in a video published over the weekend, Prigozhin complained that the ammunition that Moscow had promised it had not been delivered.
"If Wagner retreats from Bakhmut now, the whole front will collapse," Prigozhin said. "The situation will not be sweet for all military formations protecting Russian interests."
Reuters could not independently verify when and where the video was recorded. It was published not on Prigozhin's usual press service Telegram channel, but on one that has associated itself with Wagner and disseminated news about Prigozhin.
On his usual channel, Prigozhin also mentioned the lack of ammunition, saying on Sunday: "For now, we are trying to figure out the reason: Is it just ordinary bureaucracy, or a betrayal?"
Prigozhin regularly criticizes the military hierarchy and last month accused Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and others of "treason" for withholding munitions. Shoigu has been visiting forces in Ukraine to award medals and meet commanders and on Monday was in the eastern city of Mariupol, captured by Russian forces last year after a months-long siege.
In the nearly four-minute video published on the Wagner Orchestra Telegram channel on Saturday, Prigozhin said his troops were worried that Moscow wanted to set them up as potential scapegoats if Russia lost the war.
"If we retreat, then we will go down in history forever as people who have taken the main step towards losing the war," he said.
"This is exactly the problem with 'ammunition hunger'."
Russian nationalist ex-rebel commander Igor Girkin, a prominent opponent of Prigozhin's, said without citing evidence that the doom-laden video published on the weekend had been recorded at the height of that row, about two weeks ago.
Prigozhin has used the war to become a public figure in Russia, and strong signs have emerged in the past month that the Kremlin wants to clip his wings after he began feuding with the defence establishment.
The Defence Ministry said last month it was "absolutely untrue" that Wagner was being starved of ammunition...
Russian unit disobey orders: unconfirmed reports
Belgorod borders Ukraine's Kharkiv region and has repeatedly come under fire since the beginning of Russia's invasion. Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia.
Near Vuhledar, southwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, Ukraine said senior officers of Russia's 155th Brigade, which Kyiv says suffered heavy recent losses, were refusing to obey orders to attack.
"The leaders of the brigade and senior officers are refusing to proceed with a new senseless attack as demanded by their unskilled commanders — to storm well-defended Ukrainian positions with little protection or preparation," Ukraine's military said in a statement.
Military analyst Zhdanov said two "Cossack" Russian units known as Steppe and Tiger had expressed frustration with their commanders and refused to take part in any new offensive on the hilltop town.
Reuters could not immediately verify the reports.
I refer you to my post 20. Also, your reply sounds ‘off the hook’, and not in a sane way.
Of course if the press gets under Putin’s skin then the get arrested just like Alexei Navalny who reported on the true cost of Putin’s Gelendzhik Palace complex. Expressing any real opposition to Putin involves grave risks. Just ask Yulia Latynina or Mikhail Khodorkovsky or Boris Nemtsov. Oh wait, you can’t ask Nemtsov because he was murdered near the Kremlin walls.
Biden is a POS, but that has nothing to do with internal squabbles between Wagner and Putin.
I dont know why some folks cant keep their arguments direct, and have to invoke totally unrelated distraction arguments. Thats a lib tactic, not one I’d expect from conservatives.
Be angry at Biden. I am right there with you. Doesn’t change the fact that the preponderance of evidence says Wagner is there to be Putin’s ‘fall guy’ if they dont take Bakhmut, and Wagner is crying they arent getting enough (munitions) support.
Wagner PMC and Russia regulars compete for resources. So, Wagner boss is publicly lobbying to receive greater allocations.
Such competition is natural, same thing happens among units in the US military — absent the public bellyaching (mostly).
Reality “reeks of propaganda?”
You believe that if someone makes claims in a video they must be true? Considering both the content and the source’s motivations something does not add up.
That assessment makes sense. I tend to believe we keep it internal so that the enemy wouldn’t know if we ran out of bullets somewhere. Perhaps Wagner thinks the risk is worth the reward but it seems like poor strategy to me, letting the opponent know you can’t shoot at him anymore.
I trust boots I know on the ground.
CNBC yup, sure..
You Soros AI chatbots sure get around.
I think both sides are out of ammo, men, and time.
Which with one side having nukes and a large amount of paranoia, is not a good thing.
It’s CBC, the Canadian (Govenment) Broadcasting Company, who at least used to be pretty good. Better by far than CBS.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is complaining that his Wagner private army is getting screwed and killed. Due to Russia/Putin/Russian army not supplying Wagner with enough ammunition and artillery shells. In my book, Yevgeny Prigozhin is not lying. That due to rivalry with the real Russian army. (They hate his guts and his successes) They have cut off Wagner.
View this is a fatal inter service rivalry of sorts. Wagner PMC private army vs the real Russian army. Real Russian army, the conventional Russian army, meaning commanded by Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov. It is these two plus Putin versus Prigozhin. Prigozhin who has gotten too big for his britches. Who the more he succeeds, is also semi- threatening to Putin’s continued rule.
In any Kremlin power struggle (coup), bet on the man who has a private (Wagner) army at his disposal.
Owned by the same Canadian government that locked down the country and forced people to be vaccinated and froze the accounts of the protesting truckers?
And I’m supposed to be impressed?
Ukraine is the home team and have the support of basically every European neighbor of Russia. They’re not going anywhere, obviously. Warmongering Russians can go to Moscow and end this genocidal slaughter any time they want. Sadly, their bloodlust is unquenched and a lot more Russians will have to die for nothing before this ends.
Wagner PMC and Russia regulars compete for resources. So, Wagner boss is publicly lobbying to receive greater allocations.
Such competition is natural, same thing happens among units in the US military — absent the public bellyaching (mostly).
________
Exactly what is going on! Competing for limited artillery shells, ammunition and weaponry. Maybe cold weather clothing too.
You know boot on the ground in the Wagner/Russian military? I am impressed.
Your Putin Cheerleading needs polishing.
Simple thoughts for simple minds.
Speaking for yourself, of course.
Putin has killed many men for far less than Prigozhin has already done. He’s living on borrowed time and will get the window or polonium tea treatment soon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.