Commentary by Russian military blogger Andrey Chervonets
Igor Konashenkov explained the abandonment of some positions by units of the Russian Defense Ministry on the flanks of the Wagner PMC in Artyomovsk. The general said that the units of the RF Armed Forces regrouped, taking a more advantageous line, taking into account the conditions of the Berkhovskoye reservoir.
In turn, the founder of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin reacted to the words of a representative of the Russian defense department in the following way:
"Unfortunately, this is called a flight, not a regroup."
And here is a detailed answer from Evgeny Prigozhin. More advantageous lines according to Konashenkov (leaving 5 km2) is (as Prigozhin explains) the occupation by the enemy of all tactical heights. Now the enemy has completely cleared the Chasov Yar - Bakhmut road. The flanks are crumbling.
Yevgeny Prigozhin says:
"For seven months, Wagner PMCs have been moving along the road towards Slavyansk. Now the reverse process is taking place
- After we handed over the flanks of the Ministry of Defense, their flight took place. Now the enemy has occupied tactical heights from which Bakhmut is in full view. The next step is the gradual encirclement of Bakhmut
- The Minister of Defense and the head of the General Staff achieved by their actions a reduction in the number of Wagner PMCs. We are still not given ammunition, we, in fact, cannot cover the military with fire
- PMCs have 20 multi-storey buildings left to take Bakhmut. But its capture does not give anything, because the flanks are crumbling, and the front is failing
- Attempts by the Ministry of Defense to smooth the situation in the information field will lead to a global tragedy for Russia
- If you retreat, you need to stop lying, and build new lines of defense
- About treason [if " Wagner" will leave Bakhmut without the permission of the head of the General Staff]. Does this rule only apply to Wagner? Or on the military leadership, thanks to whose actions the flanks were thrown?
For the court, a copy of the combat order, according to Prigozhin, is available.