The boss of the paramilitary group Wagner assured Saturday that he was ready to send his units to defend the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine and hit in recent days by intense bombardments and attacks. “If the (Russian) Ministry of Defense does not stop what is happening in the Belgorod region […] where Russian territories are in fact being captured, then obviously we will arrive “said Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“We will defend our […] Russian people and all those who live there,” he added in an audio message published by his press service, specifying that his men would not wait for an “invitation” or authorization to deploy in the region. “The only thing we’ll ask for is ammunition, so we don’t come, as we say back home, bare ass in the cold,” Prigozhin added.
In recent days, the Belgorod region, especially its localities located closest to the Ukrainian border, has been hit by fire of an intensity unprecedented since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine at the end of February 2022. The governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov , said the area was hit by more than 500 cannon, mortar and multiple rocket launchers on Friday, including more than 370 in and around the town of Chebekino, which hundreds of civilians fled.
Gladkov announced on Saturday that one more person had died in Friday’s strikes, bringing the death toll to five. Authorities said at least 27 people were injured. Moscow also said on Thursday that it had repelled with its air force and artillery an attempted ground attack from Ukraine in the region, a week after a spectacular armed incursion which showed the vulnerability of the Russian borders.
Wagner’s chief, who regularly castigates the Russian military staff, accused him on Saturday of “ceding” territory in the Belgorod region. “The (Russian) Defense Ministry is in no condition to do anything, because de facto it doesn’t exist, it’s in a mess,” Prigozhin said. The day before, he said Wagner’s troops had left “99%” of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and surrendered their positions to the regular army, after claiming the capture of the city on May 20. .
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