The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, which has been fighting for control of Bakhmut since last summer, announced Friday that he would withdraw his forces from the city on May 10 because of insufficient ammunition. In a letter published on his Telegram channel, Yevgeniy Prigozhin demanded that the Defense Ministry sign an order indicating the date on which it would replace Wagner forces involved in a brutal battle for the city in eastern Ukraine.
Prigozhin said his forces had no choice but to withdraw to rear bases to “lick the wounds.” It remains to be seen whether he does withdraw — a move that would be catastrophic for Russia’s long campaign to take Bakhmut, and which would probably carry political consequences.
Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.
Wagner chief threatens Bakhmut withdrawal
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Meaghan Tobin contributed to this report.