Wagner Group u-turns on withdrawal from Bakhmut

May 9, 2023

CEO of Wagner Group has retracted his earlier threat to take out President Vladimir Putin’s top military leaders. The threat was made during a heated discussion at a private meeting with high-ranking officials, including members of the Kremlin.

Reports indicate that Prigozhin had been angered by the military leaders’ refusal to support his company’s operations in Libya. Wagner had been working with the Libyan National Army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, to establish control over the country’s oil fields. However, the operation was reportedly not going as planned, and Prigozhin blamed the military leaders for failing to provide sufficient support.

#Russia's Wagner group appears to do U-turn on Bakhmut withdrawal https://t.co/EWjJU576pB

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) May 8, 2023

Prigozhin’s threat to take out Putin’s top military leaders sent shockwaves through the Kremlin and sparked concerns about a potential power struggle within the Russian government. However, in a statement released today, Prigozhin claimed that his comments had been taken out of context and that he had no intention of carrying out any such action. He further claimed that the situation had improved, and his troops would remain in the region.

“I regret the comments I made at the meeting, and I want to clarify that I have no intention of threatening the security of our country or its leaders,” Prigozhin said. “I have the utmost respect for President Putin and his government, and I will continue to work within the framework of the law and with the support of the Russian military to achieve our objectives in Libya.”

The retraction has been met with relief by officials within the Kremlin, who had been concerned about the potential fallout from Prigozhin’s threat. However, some analysts remain skeptical, noting that Wagner Group has a history of operating outside of Russian law and that Prigozhin’s statement may not be entirely genuine.

The incident has once again shone a spotlight on the controversial activities of private military companies like Wagner, which have been accused of operating with impunity in conflict zones around the world. It also highlights the complex relationship between these companies and the Russian government, which has been accused of using them as a tool to pursue its foreign policy objectives.

As the situation in Bakhmut continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the involvement of Wagner Group and other private military companies will impact the conflict. However, for now, it appears that the threat of their withdrawal has been averted, and tensions in the region have eased.