2023-05-27 04:44:30
The founder of the Russian private military “Wagner” group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, confirmed that the Russian army has begun to take over its positions in the city of Bakhmut, indicating that the Russian Ministry of Defense is fully implementing the agreements.
In response to a question from the “Blacknote” newspaper about how things are going now in the city of Bakhmut, which was recently controlled by Wagner’s forces, Prigozhin said that the Russian army is actively working to take over its positions inside the city, instead of the “Wagner” forces.
“And today (Friday) the Russian Ministry of Defense is fully implementing the agreements. Therefore, from June 1, Bakhmut will be completely under the authority of the Ministry of Defense,” Prigozhin added.
He pointed out that the “Wagner” soldiers leave in a planned and organized manner, and it is assumed that after the completion of the operation, they will go to the field camps for re-formation, re-employment and additional training, according to what was reported by the Russian “Federal News Agency”.
President Wagner announces the start of handing over control of Bakhmut to the Russian army
Prigozhin bids farewell to the Ukrainian prisoners
Earlier, Prigozhin spoke to Ukrainian prisoners of war before their release in a prisoner exchange, reminding them of what they would face if they returned to the battlefield.
The press service of the “Concorde” company published a video clip in which Prigozhin gave parting words to the soldiers of the Ukrainian forces, who will be released, as part of the deal, according to the Russia Today news site.
Prigozhin said that within two hours the Ukrainians will be sent from Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) to their country, and he asked, during his conversation with the prisoners, whether they had been persecuted or tortured, and everyone answered in the negative.
Russian-Ukrainian conflict about the fall of Bakhmut
“If we see or capture any of you again, you know the outcome yourself,” Prigozhin said. “So, sit at home, sharpen your shells, and don’t carry machine guns in your hands. Come on, good luck.”
In the video, Prigozhin, with Russian fighters who returned from captivity in Ukraine, indicated that he had received information stating that none of them surrendered with his bare hands. The returning soldiers confirmed this.
Prigozhin also admitted that in order to exchange the citizens of Russia, the group had to do a lot of hard work.
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