Prigozhin once again publicly embarrassed Shoigu by stating, “I can’t comment on Shoigu’s words in any way. I didn’t meet him in Artemovsk!”
The Defense Minister speculated about the plans after the capture of Bakhmut, and the leader of the PMC in response asked to “stop running ahead of the locomotive” as there are “heavy battles” going on in the city.
Sergei Shoigu said that the capture of Artyomovsk (as Bakhmut is called in Russia) continues, and the city itself “is an important center of defense for Ukrainian troops in the Donbass.” The minister also suggested that its transfer under the control of the Russian Federation “will allow further offensive actions deep into the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” Before that, rumors appeared in the Russian media about the retreat of Ukrainian forces from Bakhmut.
However, Prigozhin said that the situation in the city is still difficult, and between 12,000 and 20,000 UAF troops remain there.
Prigozhin responded to Shoigu's words by making a number of statements:
Prigozhin stated, “I can’t comment on Shoigu’s words in any way. I didn’t meet him in Artemovsk…
– We have never left a single settlement where the Wagner PMC has set foot.
– Regarding the movement of the front after the “cleansing of Bakhmut”, the media always use a very strange word “clean up”. In Bakhmut, according to various estimates, from 12 to 20 thousand fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. If Bakhmut is cleared of them, then they must be destroyed – killed. If you mean putting their uniforms in order and sweeping the streets, Wagner PMC does not do this. It is very difficult to kill 12-20 thousand Ukrainian soldiers by tomorrow morning. Such masters exist only in the bowels of the General Staff or in Soyuzmultfilm ..
– Where will the front move after the capture of Artemovsk, ask Sergei Kuzhugetovich. My name is Evgeny Viktorovich.
Why Sergei Kuzhugetovich talks about these prospects, I do not know. Perhaps in order to please the Russian audience. Perhaps to annoy Zelensky.
– We feel Zelensky’s anger on ourselves in full, and from the joy of the Russian audience, the entrance to the Ministry of Defense was filled with flowers by March 8.
By the way, there is some good news. Recently PMC “Wagner” replenished with another fighter, and his name is Alexei Stolyarov (most likely, we are talking about the namesake of Shoigu’s son-in-law – Alexei Stolyarov, ed.).
– Regarding the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I think that the Minister of Defense assessed them correctly. PMC “Wagner” killed about 11 thousand people in February.
On the topic of Bakhmut: fierce battles are ongoing day and night, but the Ukrainians do not retreat. They continue to send more and more troops into the battle. They have ample ammunition and weapons.
Once again, Ukrainians are not retreating. They are fighting and only surrender as a last resort. They are not cowards, but brave fighters just like us, with the same blood flowing in their veins.
