On Friday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of Russia’s Wagner military contractor, threatened to withdraw his troops from the prolonged battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, accusing Moscow’s military command of depriving his forces of ammunition.

Prigozhin, a wealthy entrepreneur with deep ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that Wagner had intended to seize Bakhmut by May 9, Russia’s Victory Day holiday commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany, but they were not adequately supplied and had sustained significant losses.

As a result, they would transfer control to the regular army on May 10, the Associated Press has reported.

Prigozhin has a history of complaining about ammunition shortages and accusing Russia’s military, with whom he has been in conflict for some time.

However, Prigozhin is known for his grandiose statements and unfulfilled threats. In the past, he has made unverified claims and threats that have not materialized.

On Friday, Prigozhin’s spokespeople released a video in which he stood in front of roughly 30 uniformed bodies lying on the ground, claiming they were Wagner fighters who died on Thursday alone.

He angrily demanded ammunition from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov.

Written by staff