The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group says he was joking when he said his men would suspend artillery fire in Bakhmut to allow Ukrainian forces to show the city to visiting US journalists.
abc.net.au/news/wagner-group-chief-says-bakhmut-ceasefire-military-humour/102277088The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group says he was joking when he said his men would stop bombarding Bakhmut to allow Ukrainian forces on the other side of the frontline to show the city to visiting US journalists.Russian troops are trying to sever important supply routes into BakhmutWagner has been spearheading Russia's assault on Bakhmut since August, in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.
However, in a later audio message, Mr Prigozhin said: "Guys, this is military humour. Humour, and nothing more... It was a joke."Mr Prigozhin, who has publicly lambasted Russia's military establishment over its conduct of the war in Ukraine, is known for his combative, down-to-earth style and also for his ironic sense of humour.
Last month, after long complaining about shortages of supplies for his fighters, Mr Prigozhin said he and his men had been "blown away" by the fact that they had finally started to receive ammunition deliveries.Russian forces have for months been trying to encircle and capture Bakhmut. Russian troops tried on Thursday to sever important supply routes into the eastern Ukrainian city and thereby put more pressure on defending forces, Ukrainian officers said.
Russian units have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000.
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