Ukraine's counteroffensive 'is in full swing', Wagner chief says

Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the President of Ukraine of «misleading». Credit: AFP

Ukraine's counter-offensive is «in full swing» around the eastern town of Bakhmut, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group said after reports of Russian casualties.

Yevgeniy Prigozhin said Ukrainian operations were «unfortunately successful» since his fighters came under heavy pressure from the flanks as a result of a new offensive by the Kiev armed forces. His remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces were not ready for the counter-offensive that many expected.

The President of Ukraine warned that launching an offensive would be «unacceptable». now because too many lives would be lost trying to drive Russian troops out of his war-torn country. “With what we already have, we can move forward and I think we will succeed,” he said.

Ukrainian marines in position in the woods in the Donetsk region Photo: TYLER HICKS/NYTNS/Redux/eyevine

But Mr. Progozhin said Ukraine had already attacked the flanks of Bakhmut, which has been under siege by Russia for more than nine months.

“The situation on the flanks is developing according to the worst predicted scenario,” he said. “All the territories captured by the blood and lives of our comrades for many months, advancing tens and hundreds of meters a day, are now thrown back practically without a fight by those who should hold our flanks.” #34;

Prigozhin accused the Ukrainian president of «cheating» after he suggested that a long-awaited counter-offensive had been delayed while Kyiv waited for further Western aid supplies. “About the counteroffensive, Vladimir Zelensky is not entirely truthful: the counteroffensive is in full swing,” the head of Wagner said.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian forces recaptured territory in the southwestern part of Bakhmut, taking advantage of an apparent communication breakdown between Wagner and the Russian military.

Russian paratroopers supported Wagner's stubborn advance through to the west of the city, pinning down Ukrainian units on the flanks.

Blogger Warnings

Prominent Russian military bloggers have warned that at least four positions on Russia's flanks have been lost in the recent Ukrainian counter-offensive around Bakhmut. Helped Kiev regain control of the so-called «road of life» that was used to secure the defense of Bakhmut in what became the longest and bloodiest battle of the war, according to Kremlin sources.

Ukraine has formed 12 new military brigades, nine of which are equipped and trained by NATO allies to carry out the long-awaited counter-offensive.

The operational details of the plan are being kept secret and known only to a small group of advisers close to Zelenskiy, to maintain an element of surprise when the assault begins.

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Many believe that the armed forces of Ukraine will try to push back Russian troops in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, trying to cut the land bridge of Moscow to the occupied Crimean peninsula.

NATO allies have transferred more than 230 main battle tanks and 1,550 armored vehicles to Ukraine for offensive operations.

Ground forces attrition

Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of the NATO military committee, said in an alliance 39; EU member states were able to go to risk supplying Kiev because Russia had significantly depleted its ground forces during the invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his troops are not yet ready for a counteroffensive. Photo: DIRK WAEM/AFP

“At the moment they [Russia] have about 85% or more of their ground forces. in Ukraine,” he said at a defense and security conference in Brussels.

"So the likelihood that the Russian armed forces will use ground forces to attack NATO is very high at the moment. very small. "

He added: «That's why we tell the NATO countries that if you give weapons systems and assets to Ukraine, we can take certain risks when it comes to ground forces, because the Russian ground forces troops are currently in no position to actually attack NATO."

Meanwhile, Ben Wallace, the UK Defense Secretary, seems to have supported the victims using the British courts to sue Wagner. Group.

"Whatever goes for Wagner will have more influence, will be sued in the courts, I suspect, given the mercenaries, if they don't get paid, don't'don't hang around,& #34; he told deputies when they were asked about the group's ban as a terrorist group.