Kiev ∙ It is reported that Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties in the eastern city of Bahmut, where heavy fighting has been going on for weeks. It is reported that 1600 Russian soldiers were killed last day alone. Disagreement between the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group and the Ministry of Defense has weakened the advance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the city would not be surrendered and that the defense would continue. Poland has announced that it will deliver 10 more German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine this week. Four have been transferred at present.
Most of the cities in the eastern province of Donbas are under the control of Russian forces, but in many places Ukrainian forces are putting up strong resistance. A Bagmuth victory is essential for Russia to complete its domination of the industrial sector in the Donbass. Tens of thousands of mercenaries of the Wagner group were deployed to help the Russian soldiers. But Yevgeny Prigoshin, the head of the Wagner Group, who is also a Putin confidant, came forward on Monday, accusing the army of cheating and not providing the necessary ammunition.
Pragosh’s complaint is that the ammunitions as per the contract signed on the 22nd of last month have not been delivered till now and this is being delayed on purpose. In the video message, he alleged that if the war is lost, he will use his fighters as scapegoats. Despite retreating in the last few weeks, the decision of the Ukrainian forces to take advantage of the division on the Russian side is to advance.
Meanwhile, a video surfaced of an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war being shot dead by Russian troops. Ukraine has confirmed that this is the soldier who went missing from Bahmut on the 3rd of last month. The World Health Organization has suggested that there are thousands of injured people in Ukraine and that treatment should be provided to them.
Who is Wagner Group?
The Wagner Group is a mercenary force used by Russia for military operations abroad. It is headed by Russian billionaire Yevgeny Prigosh. He is known as ‘Putin’s chef’. Earlier he was in charge of the catering works in the Kremlin.
The UK Ministry of Defense estimates that the number of Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine is around half a million. Most of them are experienced ex-servicemen. In 2014, they first participated in the Russian military operation to capture Crimea. Since 2015, Wagner mercenaries have been in Syria with government forces. Wagner Group is registered as a St. Petersburg-based company because mercenaries are illegal.
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