According to analysts, the Kremlin wants Yevgeny Prigozhin to grind Bakhmut down in the "meat grinder" and is even speculating on his death.
Bakhmut - Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, revels in his role as an outsider against the Russian establishment.
But for how much longer?
There are increasing signs that the Wagner boss is increasingly being cornered.
His troops suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Bakhmut.
The Wagner boss also has losses in his assets.
Prigozhin spent vast sums recruiting up to 40,000 prisoners.
Nevertheless, Wagner has to contend with acute staff shortages in the form of deaths.
He repeatedly accuses the Russian Defense Ministry of abandoning its fighters in the Ukraine war.
However, according to CNN
, analysts consider it
possible that the establishment around Vladimir Putin is letting the military chief wear down Bakhmut in the "meat grinder" or is speculating on his death.
+
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group.
© Uncredited/AP/dpa
Prigozhin begs the Russian military for help
Recently, Prigozhin admitted that the battle in Bakhmut "is difficult, very difficult, because the enemy is fighting for every meter."
In another video message, Prigozhin said: "We need the military to shield the access roads.
If they can do that, then everything is fine.
If not, then Wagner will be surrounded with the Ukrainians in Bakhmut.” Prigozhin still urgently needs supplies in the form of ammunition.
Wagner was able to advance further in the vicinity of Bachmut and is now holding the eastern part of the city.
So far, however, it has not been enough to drive the Ukrainians out of the city.
According to media reports, Wagner also has fewer soldiers than Ukraine.
Pictures of the Ukraine war: great horror and small moments of happiness
To the photo gallery
Russian defense minister wants to “weaken Prigozhin”
The Washington, DC-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Secretary of Defense Sergei Shoigu "is likely to seize the opportunity to use both Wagner's elite and convict forces in Bakhmut to weaken Prigozhin and raise his ambitions." to thwart more influence in the Kremlin”.
The Kremlin is now shooting back verbally.
Political scientist Alexei Mukhin, who is close to the Kremlin, accuses Prigozhin of wanting to pursue a career in politics himself.
In addition, the Wagner boss is an incompetent commander.
"He put the Wagner fighters at great risk of being surrounded by the expected counterattack," he said.
(mse)
List of rubrics: © Uncredited/AP/dpa