New episode in the tensions between the Russian troops and the Wagner group, in the middle of the war in Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the paramilitary organization, said Monday that he had taken prisoner a Russian officer whose unit had attacked his men.
On May 17, "men of the (Russian) Ministry of Defense were seen mining roads behind the positions of the Wagner units," according to statements by Yevgeny Prigozhin reported by his press service. "The Wagner fighters who carried out the demining were attacked by fire from the positions of the Ministry of Defense," he said.
"An investigation is underway and several facts cannot be made public," adds the Wagner conductor in an audio message accompanying the text, "but I put here this initial report and video evidence of what really happened there."
A Russian lieutenant colonel prisoner?
Yevgeny Prigozhin also released the video of the interrogation of a Russian officer, who is presented as a prisoner. The latter explains that he is Lieutenant Colonel Roman Vinevitenov "commander of the 72nd motorized brigade". In the video, the man claims to have "attacked" Wagner, adding that he acted "drunk, guided by personal animosity", but it is not possible to determine whether he is speaking, or not, under duress.
On Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in open conflict with the command of the Russian regular army, had accused him of "ceding" territories in the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine and hit in recent days by intense shelling and ground attacks. He also said he was ready to send his units to defend "Russian territories" which "are in fact being conquered".
The day before, Yevgeny Prigozhin had assured that Wagner's troops had left "99%" Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, and ceded their positions to the regular army, after claiming the capture of the city on May 20.
