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The leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced Friday that his troops will be withdrawing from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on May 10. And that they are leaving their position because of severe ammunition shortages.

This move comes as tens of thousands of mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The US National Security Council has reported that about 80% of them were in Russian prisons before they enlisted in the private army. And were sent to the frontlines of the conflict.

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, Wagner commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine. And the private army is a key component of the Ukraine campaign. 

The organization began recruiting in large numbers last year because Russia had trouble finding people for the regular army. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Wagner Group had only about 5,000 fighters.

Prigozhin stressed that his fighters would stay on their positions until Victory Day on May 9. That’s when Russia celebrates wining in World War Two.And they plan to withdraw from Bakhmut the following day. 

A video showing him walking among his dead fighters' bodies was also released on Friday. And in it he blames top Russian defense officials for their deaths. "Tens of thousands" had been killed and injured there, Prigozhin emphasized.

The video appears to have been filmed about 2km (1.2 miles) from the center of Bakhmut. The BBC claims to have matched ground features, with satellite imagery of the location to confirm the Wagner boss’s location.

Wagner mercenary group 

Russia has been trying to capture the eastern city for months, despite its questionable strategic value. And Wagner troops have been heavily involved in these efforts.

 The announcement of the withdrawal of Russian mercenaries from Bakhmut has significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It suggests that Russia's efforts to maintain control in the region are facing serious obstacles. One of the main problems is a lack of resources and support from its own military personnel. 

The use of mercenaries in conflict zones is a controversial practice that has drawn criticism from human rights groups and others. 

The recruitment of prisoners into private armies is particularly concerning, as it raises questions about the legality and morality of using people as cannon fodder. This is especally troubling if Prigozhin is being truthful. And the Wagner soldiers have no guns or ammunition to fight with.

Earlier this week, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby cited recently declassified intelligence. It says that more than 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since December and at least 80,000 wounded while fighting in Ukraine. It is estimated that 50% of those killed were from the Wagner group.