Prigozhin affirms Wagner’s stance in Bakhmut and signals new combat orders
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the private military company Wagner, stated that his fighters remained in Bakhmut (Artemovsk). He claimed that on the night of May 7, Wagner received a combat directive with confidential data for the first time in this phase of the operation.
“They promise to supply as much ammunition and weaponry as we need to push forward,” the Wagner leadership said. He added that the group was assured of having everything necessary to avoid being cut off by opposing forces and would be free to act in Bakhmut as it saw fit.
According to Prigozhin, the message also introduced General Sergey Surovikin as the senior commander responsible for Wagner’s military operations and its coordination with the Ministry of Defense. The press service framed Surovikin as the sole army general with battlefield experience who would make key strategic decisions for Wagner’s operations.
Prigozhin noted that on May 6, Wagner offered junior commanders the option to join other formations if they desired. He described the response as a clear rejection, stating that such a move would be “obscene” for Wagner and that the stance was entirely in line with the company’s expectations.
“Operation complete”
In the early hours of May 7, Prigozhin asserted that his forces had completed their mission in Bakhmut. He said the fighters would be sent to training camps and remain there until the threat to Russia and its citizens was eliminated as part of this broader military operation.
He claimed that roughly 95 percent of Bakhmut was under Russian control, while the remaining 5 percent was deemed nonessential to the overall assessment of success or the advancement toward broader objectives in the west.
Earlier, on May 5, Prigozhin had announced plans for Wagner to withdraw from Bakhmut by May 10 due to ammunition shortages and high personal losses. In response, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov proposed transferring Wagner’s positions to Akhmat special forces. Prigozhin indicated openness to such a transfer if needed.
Earlier discussions about shell shortages had been raised by Prigozhin, who admitted visiting several Moscow offices to address the issue. When General Surovikin led the Russian troops from October 2022 to January 2023, Prigozhin claimed there were no ammunition problems, adding a candid remark about the importance of sufficient supplies.
Kadyrov urges Wagner to stay in Bakhmut
On May 6, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov published a video message to Prigozhin, responding to indications that Wagner might depart Bakhmut by May 10. He urged Zhenya to stay on the defensive until positions were secured, and only then move forward with a clear plan. He outlined concepts and told Wagner fighters to remain and keep fighting, promising better conditions than those currently available.
Kadyrov also called on President Vladimir Putin to order Akhmat units to reinforce Bakhmut and suggested that Akhmat could take on positions alongside Wagner. He indicated that Prigozhin had agreed to consider transferring Wagner’s positions to Chechen units if necessary, implying a broader reshaping of local forces to consolidate control around Bakhmut.
The message from Kadyrov reflected a broader push to keep Wagner in the area and to coordinate with other Russian formations. The latest exchanges highlight a tense yet collaborative dynamic among Russian authorities and allied paramilitary groups as they navigate the contested zone around Bakhmut.
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