It quoted Prigozhin as saying that if the ammunition supplies are not increased, Wagner Group’s mercenaries will be forced to “withdraw in an organized manner or stay and die.”
According to the ISW, the group is currently receiving only 800 out of 4,000 shells they requested every day, while Prigozhin claims the group’s actual needs are about 80,000 shells daily.
The ISW also said Prigozhin voiced criticism of Russian military forces’ command, which is an indication that he “fears that the Russian positions in Bakhmut’s rear are vulnerable to counterattacks.”
On Thursday, Russia has mounted fresh assaults on Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, pounding it with rockets and artillery as Moscow forces seek to advance into the embattled city ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, officials have said.
Russia’s continued attacks on Bakhmut are a key part of its attempts to capture the eastern Ukrainian industrial region of Donbas, the Reuters news agency reported on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the ISW reported that “Russian occupation authorities and border area officials have expanded security measures and filtration efforts likely in anticipation of increased Ukrainian partisan activity in support of a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive.”
(tf)
Source: ISW