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.
