Russia has replaced the Wagner PMC with regular troops on the outskirts of Bakhmut, but the Wagnerians remain in the ruined city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said Thursday.
His comments partially confirmed Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin’s statement that forces subordinate to him were leaving Bakhmut and giving up positions to regular Russian troops.
“Near Bakhmut, units of Wagner’s PMC have replaced Russian army units, but Wagnerians remain in the city,” Maliar wrote in Telegram.
Prigozhin, who announced the capture of Bakhmut last week, said in a video that his units began to withdraw early Thursday morning.
Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for Ukraine’s Eastern Military Command, said Russian attacks in the area had diminished over the past three days, with two clashes in the past 24 hours, although shelling continued.
“We can certainly note a decrease in the number of attacks, and perhaps this is due to their clustering. Obviously, we have inflicted heavy losses on them, and they need it (to regroup),” he said.
Russia is also strengthening its positions on the flanks of Bakhmut and shelling Ukrainian forces in an attempt to prevent Ukrainian forces from advancing north and south of the city, Maliar said.
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