ISW: Wagner chief's warning shows fear Russia about to "lose initiative"
WORLD 20 March 2023 - 23:01
The chief financier behind Russia's Wagner private mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has hinted at his concerns that Moscow will "lose the initiative" in the war with Ukraine, according to military analysts.
A new report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) claims Prigozhin spoke to his affiliated outlet RIA FAN on March 17 and claimed Ukrainian forces were preparing a large counter-offensive, Newsweek reports.
Coming at a crucial time as the conflict moves into its second year with question marks over Russia's strategy, Prigozhin is said to have claimed that Ukrainian forces will carry out the operations across the occupied eastern regions of the country starting in mid-April.
The ISW report, released on March 18, said: "Prigozhin's depiction of imminent Ukrainian counteroffensives also implies that he believes that Russian forces will lose the initiative to Ukraine soon and be forced onto the defensive rather than continuing stalled or unsuccessful offensives in the Kreminna, Bakhmut, Avdiivka or Vuhledar areas."
He urged Russian forces to prepare for the counteroffensives by preserving ammunition and equipment.
Prigozhin is believed to have depicted the Ukrainian forces as having enough combat power to justify the Wagner group's "inability to complete an envelopment or encirclement" of Bakhmut, in eastern occupied Ukraine.
He claimed Ukraine has at least 19,000 personnel deployed within Bakhmut, again in an attempt to justify Wagner's lack of progress in the city.
Russian soldiers fighting for control of Bakhmut saw their "lowest rates" of offensive actions amid a "depletion of troops" power in the city, according to British Intelligence.
The UK's Ministry of Defense on Saturday, March 18, found Russia is conducting some of the lowest rates of local offensive action that has been since January this year.
Russia has made gains in Bakhmut with its troops having gained footholds west of the Bakhmuta River, which flows through the center of the city.
According to the ISW, Russian regional authorities could be severing their connections with Prigozhin.
It stated Prigozhin claimed the authorities in Krasnodar Krai, in southern Russia, have reneged on a prior agreement to bury the Wagner Group dead in the town.
The ISW report added: "Prigozhin also released a phone call in which a Goryachiy Klyuch official told a Wagner representative that Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev stripped him of authority to cooperate with Wagner.
"Wagner servicemen also released a threatening video appeal to the local administration claiming that they will "personally solve the issue" with the administration if they do not respond to the appeals."
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Poland suspends military drills following fifth soldier's death
27 March 2024 - 13:41
|
2
|
Syrian scenario for Armenia Russian, Israeli experts’ views for Caliber.Az
26 March 2024 - 17:27
|
3
|
Serbian president warns of difficult days ahead
27 March 2024 - 11:04
|
4
|
Global reactions to UNSC Gaza ceasefire resolution Diverse views, urgent action
27 March 2024 - 18:00
|
5
|
Vucic warns of Serbia's Council of Europe departure amid Kosovo debate Double standards alert
28 March 2024 - 12:13
|
Geopolitical storm brewing beyond Russia's reaction
EU-US-Armenia meeting sparks controversy29 March 2024 - 12:38
Speaker says Armenia doing nothing against Russia
29 March 2024 - 12:24
Armenia conducts house-to-house searches in apartments, offices of nationalists
29 March 2024 - 12:09
Ombudswoman: World community should recognize events of 1918 as genocide of Azerbaijanis
29 March 2024 - 11:57
Global trade at risk as Washington faces policy failure
US-Houthi stalemate continues29 March 2024 - 11:46
Armenia blocks Kremlin propagandist’s talk-show
29 March 2024 - 11:34
Armenian prime minister faces dilemma amid Karabakh junta provocations
How will Pashinyan respond?29 March 2024 - 11:22
Azerbaijan’s ecology minister meets with Saudi energy companies
29 March 2024 - 11:13
Israeli strike kills 36 Syrian soldiers near Aleppo
Unprecedented attack29 March 2024 - 11:02
Poland to deploy troops to ensure security at Paris Olympics amid heightened alert
29 March 2024 - 10:53
European analyst: Armenia unlikely to secure NATO or EU membership
29 March 2024 - 10:42
Top UN court orders Israel to allow food and medical aid into Gaza
29 March 2024 - 10:31
Pundit questions Armenia's dependence on Western protection
29 March 2024 - 10:19
Presidential aide: Azerbaijan very pleased with China in field of global green transformation
29 March 2024 - 10:07
Azerbaijani officials deemed more professional than Armenian counterparts, claims blogger
29 March 2024 - 09:54
Great Return: Azerbaijan resettles 35 more families in Fuzuli amid restoration efforts
PHOTO29 March 2024 - 09:41
Armenian parliament speaker affirms EU membership goal
29 March 2024 - 09:27
Iranian top diplomat opposes military presence of third countries in Caspian Sea
29 March 2024 - 09:14
Azerbaijani, Armenian parliament speakers to meet again in mid-May amid peace talks
29 March 2024 - 09:00
Assault on Yerevan police station underlines risk of violent opposition to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace
Opinion by Commonspace.eu29 March 2024 - 08:45
Estonia must double defence spending to counter Russia - military chief
29 March 2024 - 07:00
Turkmenistan ready to diversify natural gas supplies to ECO countries - president
29 March 2024 - 05:00
Eurasianet: Armenian government grappling with border delimitation dilemma
29 March 2024 - 03:01
Iran displays advanced military might at international exhibition
PHOTO/VIDEO29 March 2024 - 01:00
Armenia’s exports to Russia raise concerns over sanctions circumvention
28 March 2024 - 23:00
Lavrov blames Armenian leadership for deliberately undermining relations with Moscow
28 March 2024 - 21:09
Turkish, Azerbaijani filmmakers unite for joint historical film Golden Train
28 March 2024 - 20:57
Japan looks to revive commercial aircraft development dreams
28 March 2024 - 20:45
CoE committee plans working visit to Armenia to assess regional dynamics
28 March 2024 - 20:41
Azerbaijan, OIC Youth Forum ink deal for Shusha 2024 program
28 March 2024 - 20:37
Ukraine drone strike hits Russian infrastructure - Belgorod governor
28 March 2024 - 20:29
EU mission in Armenia transitioning to NATO oversight
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov28 March 2024 - 20:20
US buys 2.8 mln barrels of oil for strategic reserve
28 March 2024 - 20:14
Int’l program OIC Youth capital Shusha-2024 to host array of events - minister
28 March 2024 - 19:59
Iran oil & gas expo strategic nexus for domestic & global energy players
28 March 2024 - 19:59
Who is Mohammad Mustafa, Palestinian Prime Minister-designate?
28 March 2024 - 19:45
Shusha holds paramount significance for all Turkic states
OIC Youth Forum president28 March 2024 - 19:35
More than 20% of global oil refining capacity at risk, analysis finds
28 March 2024 - 19:29
Pakistan urges US for Iran gas pipeline waiver, calls project 'need of the hour'
28 March 2024 - 19:14
NYT: Russian group spread disinformation about Princess of Wales
28 March 2024 - 19:00