Wagner boss Prigozhin probably wanted to betray Russian troops

International

The relationship between the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the Kremlin is like a rollercoaster ride. One moment Prigozhin criticizes the Ministry of Defense and Minister Sergei Shoigu in the harshest possible way – the next moment everything is rosy again.

Prigozhin is regarded as Vladimir Putin’s man for the rough. His mercenary group has a reputation for flouting human rights and committing war crimes en masse. But now the “Washington Post” Allegations against Prigozhin published that cast doubt on his integrity.

Pentagon leaks reveal offer from Wagner boss

The newspaper refers to information from the Pentagon leaks. Specifically, the point is that Prigozhin wanted to negotiate a deal with Ukraine in January. Content of the deal: the city of Bakhmut.

Prigozhin and his Wagner group have been besieging the embattled city in eastern Ukraine for months. In mid-May, the Wagner boss sounded the alarm: his mercenary troops were threatened with encirclement. And Moscow is doing nothing, although Shoigu would have promised flank protection.

At the same time, the lack of ammunition in his units continues “because the promises made by the Ministry of Defense have not been fulfilled”. He invited Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Bakhmut so that he could personally assess the threat situation.

Now the quarrel between Prigozhin and Shoigu is known. The wrangling over competence has been paralyzing the Russian armed forces for months – and yet progress in Bakhmut has been slow but steady. If the deal that Prigozhin had been aiming for had worked, the city of Bakhmut would probably have been taken long ago.

Prigozhin probably wanted to make a pact with Kyiv

Because the proposal that Prigozhin is said to have passed on to his contacts in Ukraine’s military intelligence service was Bakhmut’s eye. Specifically, the point is that the Wagner boss asked Ukraine to withdraw its commanders and soldiers from the area around Bakhmut. In return, Prigozhin is said to have offered to give Kiev information about the position of Russian troops.

The document probably did not reveal which troop positions were actually involved. According to the Washington Post, two Ukrainian officials are said to have confirmed that the Wagner boss spoke to the Ukrainian military intelligence service several times. Prigozhin is also said to have extended the Bachmut offer several times.

However, Kiev probably turned down the offer because the military leadership did not trust the mercenary boss. An assessment that is probably shared in the USA.

However, according to the newspaper, neither the White House nor the Ukrainian government wanted to comment on the allegations.

(With material from the dpa)