The leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has threatened to pull his troops out of the critical battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine due to mounting casualties. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military authorities have reported that Russian forces have been unable to sever their supply routes to the frontline city.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, stated in an interview with Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov that losses in Bakhmut are five times higher than necessary due to a lack of artillery ammunition. He further expressed concern about the high number of casualties and requested immediate ammunition replenishment from Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin warned that if the ammunition deficit is not resolved, his forces would be forced to withdraw or die.
Prigozhin added that some fighters may be withdrawn from Bakhmut, but cautioned that this could cause the collapse of the Russian front line elsewhere. He also stated that due to the lack of ammunition, he had lost 94 fighters and claimed that this number would have been significantly lower if his forces had more ammunition.
The Ukrainian military spokesperson confirmed that Russian forces had been unsuccessful in cutting off their supply lines to the Ukrainian defenders in Bakhmut. The Wagner chief also reported to the Washington, DC-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, that his forces had only received 800 of the 4,000 shells per day requested from Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
Prigozhin expressed concern about the anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, which he expects to begin before May 15. He criticized Russian forces for not preparing for the expected onslaught. The Institute for the Study of War speculated that Prigozhin’s threat to withdraw from Bakhmut may suggest that he fears Russian positions in Bakhmut’s rear are vulnerable to counterattacks.
For 10 months, Russian forces have been attempting to penetrate the remains of a city that once housed 70,000 people. The battle for Bakhmut has been dubbed the “meat grinder” due to its high number of casualties.
Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, stated in an interview with local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia that the Russians have been discussing seizing the crucial “road of life” and maintaining constant fire control over it. However, he reassured that the defense forces had prevented the Russians from severing their logistics.
The “road of life” is a critical path that spans just over 17km (10 miles) between the devastated city of Bakhmut and the nearby town of Chasiv Yar to the west. Ukrainian forces are steadfast in maintaining their positions along the route, and engineers have constructed new roads to Bakhmut to secure the supply of provisions, weapons, and ammunition.
Cherevatyi claimed that all of these measures have enabled the Ukrainian forces to hold onto Bakhmut. Military analysts predict that if Bakhmut were to fall, Chasiv Yar would likely be the next target of Russian aggression. Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces are thought to have erected defensive fortifications in the area as Chasiv Yar is situated on higher ground.
Russia views Bakhmut as a gateway to attacking other Ukrainian regions, but Ukraine has pledged to defend the city at all costs.
