Boss Wagner declares control over all of Bakhmut

Wagner leader claims units of Russian private military corporation control entire city of Bakhmut after months of fighting with Ukraine.

"On the afternoon of May 20, Wagner took the final position in the 'samolet' area," Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military corporation, said, referring to the area southwest of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian forces had been holding out for days. "We took control of the entire city, house by house."

Mr Prigozhin announced that Wagner units would withdraw from Bakhmut from May 25 and hand over the city to regular Russian forces. "Thank you, President Vladimir Putin, for giving us the opportunity and the honor to defend our homeland," Mr Prigozhin said.

Wagner's leadership also thanked General Sergey Suroviki and Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev for "helping us carry out this difficult operation".

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of Wagner, announced in a video on May 20 that his forces had taken complete control of Bakhmut. Screenshot — Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of Wagner, announced in a video on May 20 that his forces had taken complete control of Bakhmut. *Screenshot*

However, Mr. Prigozhin criticized some Russian military officials and commanders for not providing enough ammunition to Wagner units, causing them to "suffer losses five times higher than expected".

The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet released information about the situation in Bakhmut following the Wagner leader's statement.

Meanwhile, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine's eastern command, rejected Wagner's statement. "Our units continue to fight in Bakhmut," Mr. Cherevatyi said.

The battle in Bakhmut is considered the most intense and prolonged since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, when both sides focused their forces on the city in Donetsk province.

Ukrainian officials and military commanders have said defending Bakhmut is “militarily necessary,” and that the city in Donetsk province is key to containing Russian forces in the Donbass region and preventing them from advancing further west.

Meanwhile, Russia considers Bakhmut to be an important defense center for Ukraine in the Donbass region, and controlling the city would allow them to attack deeper into enemy lines.

Western experts have expressed skepticism about the strategic significance of Bakhmut, but say that controlling the city would provide some advantages for Russia. They also say the decision to withdraw from Bakhmut "would not be a disaster for Ukraine's resistance efforts."