Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russia's Wagner private mercenary group, says his troops will leave the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut between May 25 and June 1. Prigozhin recently claimed his troops had taken Bakhmut after the longest and bloodiest battle since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, while Kyiv denied the city had fallen. In a May 22 audio report on Telegram, Prigozhin reiterated his previous statement that the ruined city will be handed over to the regular Russian military, adding that the Defense Ministry should create "a platoon of generals" to hold Russian positions in Bakhmut.
Wagner Chief Prigozhin Says His Troops Will Leave Ukraine's Bakhmut By June 1
In a video released on May 20, Yevgeny Prigozhin speaks holding a Russian national flag in front of Wagner fighters in Bakhmut.