JAKARTA - Head of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries Yevgeny Prigozhin said he believed the retaliatory attacks promised by Ukrainian forces had begun, after observing an increase in activity along the front lines.
In an audio message published by its press service on social media, Prigozhin said that the "active phase" of the retaliatory attack would begin in the coming days.
"I believe the forward movement of the Ukrainian army has begun... We see the greatest activity that may occur both on the perimeter and on the front lines," Prigozhin said.
"Therefore, I believe that it has all started. And I am sure that everything will enter an active phase in the near future. It could be only in a matter of days," he continued.
It is known that the Kyiv government has long promised retaliatory attacks to begin retaking territory in the eastern region, which Russia annexed after invading in February 2022.
Separately, Prigozhin said his troops managed to advance 230 meters (700 feet) in the fighting that had hit Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, a city that was previously inhabited by 70 thousand residents but is now destroyed and is under siege for nearly 10 months.
Prigozhin said Ukrainian troops are now confined in an area in the city of only 2.64 square km. (about one square mile).
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Nevertheless, Prigozhin reiterated his complaint that Moscow was ignoring his request to increase the supply of bullets.
"The Ministry of Defense did not give us artillery ammunition. We only have resources for a few days," said Prigozhin.
"They ignored all requests from Wagner," he said.
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