Russian paramilitary organisation, Wagner, leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has decried the loss to Ukrainian forces of a village near Bakhmut, saying that tactics used by Russian forces would lead to more defeats in two weeks, reported Reuters. Prigozhin also denounced the Russian Defence Ministry's latest account of fighting in the Donetsk region as "simply wild and absurd science fiction". As per Reuters, Prigozhin made his comments on Monday.
A top Russian-backed official in the occupied Donetsk region has reportedly described the military situation around Bakhmut as difficult. Notably, Reuters reported, Prigozhin's private Wagner militia captured nearly all of Bakhmut in Ukraine last month and handed its positions there to Russian troops in what is said to be the longest battle of the war.
Now, Ukraine has continued to attack areas north and south of the city since Russian troops began managing it.
"Now part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away. Disgrace!" Prigozhin said in an audio message published by his press service, as per Reuters’ report. Berkhivka lies about 3 km (2 miles) northwest of Bakhmut, and Wagner claimed its capture on Feb. 24.
In an interview posted on Telegram later on Monday, Prigozhin said Russia's defence ministry was ‘duping’ the public and Kremlin leaders with its ‘tactics’. He said Ukrainian movements in the region "can happen much faster than our advances".
"The Ministry of Defence's tactics are malicious and deceptive," he added in the online interview, Reuters stated in its report.
He added, "The Ministry of Defence's main goal is to pretend that everything is ok and that we are advancing. In reality, what is happening now ... will result in significant tactical defeats in two weeks' time."
Prigozhin also denounced the Russian Defence Ministry's latest account of fighting in the Donetsk region, which detailed big losses inflicted on Ukrainian forces, as "simply wild and absurd science fiction".
Denis Pushilin, the top Moscow-backed official in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk region, which includes Bakhmut, told Russian state television the situation on the city's flanks was "under control" but "very difficult".
Prigozhin has reportedly requested Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to come to the front to rally the troops.
Notably, Prigozhin waged a public feud with Shoigu and Gerasimov for months as he accused them of failing to provide sufficient ammunition and support for Wagner in the field, which ultimately caused them lives
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