Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has announced that he has been promised as much ammunition and weaponry as needed to maintain their presence in Bakhmut, Ukraine. This comes amid a conflict with top 'fat cat' Russian officials. The US estimates that the Wagner Group is spending around $100 million per month to stay in the area.
Recent reports have exposed the use of "human wave" death squads by the group, sending fighters into battle in desperate suicidal marches under heavy gunfire and artillery fire. Prigozhin and Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov have declared their intention to replace Wagner Group forces with Chechen Akhmat troops on May 10th.
In his latest statement, Prigozhin claimed that General Sergei Surovikin had been appointed as liaison between Russia's regular military forces and Wagner mercenaries. He also stated that his forces were given permission to "act in Bakhmut as we see fit," indicating they will remain there for now.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Friday that instead of withdrawing from Bakhmut, Wagner was actually redeploying mercenaries towards the city before Tuesday's Victory Day celebrations in Russia. She expressed concern about this development but remained confident of Ukrainian forces' ability to defend against any threats posed by these mercenaries.
Western officials believe thousands of Russian soldiers and Wagner troops have been killed during recent fighting; however, it remains an uneasy alliance between both parties involved—Russian troops are not always pleased with how closely they must work alongside private contractors like those employed by the Wagner Group.
This announcement underscores tensions within factions supporting separatist movements within Ukraine while highlighting ongoing concerns surrounding aggressive actions taken by private military organizations such as the controversially notorious Wagner Group.