Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Troops Replaced Wagner Fighters in Bakhmut

The Ukrainian deputy defense minister said that Russian troops were replacing the Wagner fighters in the eastern city of Bakhmut, where fighting has been taking place the longest. The minister said that Russian troops were replacing the fighters in the outskirts of the city, and Wagner fighters remained inside.

On Thursday, Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said in comments in the Telegram messaging app that Russian troops were replacing fighters of the Wagner mercenary group in the outskirts of Bakhmut. However, Maliar added that the group remains inside the city. Maliar’s comments are a partial confirmation of the announcement by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin that his group had begun withdrawing from Bakhmut and having Russian troops take their positions.

“In Bakhmut’s outskirts, the enemy has replaced Wagner’s units with regular army forces. Inside the city itself Wagner fighters remain,” said Maliar. Maliar also said that Moscow was reinforcing its positions in the city’s flanks and shelling Ukrainian forces to prevent them from advancing north and south of Bakhmut.

Prigozhin said in a video posted on Telegram that his forces were withdrawing early on the same day, and the transfer of positions to Russian soldiers would continue until June 1. Prigozhin also claimed that they had captured Bakhmut after months of fighting.

Ukraine’s eastern military command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi said that Russian attacks in Bakhmut have dropped in the last three days, with two military engagements in the last 24 hours despite continued shelling.

Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus have signed a deal to formalize the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory. Moscow cited rising tensions with the West as its reason for signing the deal this week, which was first announced back in March by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow would retain control of the weapons as well as the decisions of its use.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia would be prepared to use nuclear weapons in the war, citing the need to defend its so-called “territorial integrity.” At the time, the NATO alliance said that there was no need to adjust its own nuclear posture, despite criticizing Putin’s threats as “dangerous and irresponsible.”

Kyiv has said that Russia has taken Belarus hostage.

Photo: Npu.gov.ua/Wikimedia Commons(CC by 2.0)