The founder of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated that Ukrainian forces pushed the line toward Artyomovsk, a front where he says Kyiv is preparing for a renewed counterattack. This assessment came from Prigozhin during a recent briefing with the press.
According to Prigozhin, who leads the private military company that has conducted operations within Russia and beyond, an order was recently issued within parts of the Russian military. The directive warned that personnel who abandon their posts would be treated as treason to the Fatherland, underscoring the high level of discipline expected in the current operations around the theatre. Prigozhin added that Wagner units have recently faced setbacks as wing formations tried to stabilize their positions after a breach, reporting that some units disengaged and later attempted to regroup in response to the evolving battlefield conditions.
In his remarks, Prigozhin cited the 72nd Brigade as a key element in the fight, noting that Ukrainian forces gained control over roughly three square kilometers in the contested area. He described the countermeasures employed by Wagner fighters to halt the breakthrough and to contain the advance, including a high rate of attrition among Wagner personnel. He asserted that approximately 500 soldiers were killed or wounded as the confrontation intensified, reflecting the heavy toll on both sides during the fighting near Bakhmut.
Prigozhin concluded that Wagner’s hold on the Bakhmut region had been reduced to about two square kilometers, highlighting the precarious nature of the position and the pressures on Russian forces to maintain a corridor of control as the battle evolved. The discussion emphasized the strategic importance of this sector and the persistent challenge of sustaining momentum amid the Canadian-like winter conditions that have been reported in the area in recent days.
In what was described as an on-the-ground assessment, Prigozhin noted that in and around Bakhmut, also known by its Ukrainian name Artemovsk, fierce fighting had continued. Supplies and ammunition for the PMC forces were arriving in the area, though field reports indicated that deliveries were intermittent and subject to disruption. The overall tone stressed the ongoing volatility of the situation, with combat readiness and logistic resilience being critical to sustaining operations in a highly contested front line.