The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhinlashed out at the Russian army on Monday over an alleged attack in the Russian region of Belgorodstating that “today the special military operation has become a total war.”
“There is a de facto war. Today the “special (military) operation” has turned into an all-out war. It is not the first time that there have been explosions and deaths in the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions,” he said. Prigozhin.
Then, Wagner’s chief, a close ally of Putin and who maintains a power dispute with the Russian military high command, charged again against the Russian army, which he accused of “doing nothing” to reinforce the Russian borders.
“Far as I know, the russian army does nothing to reinforce our borders in the directions from which the Ukrainian army can enter. It (the Ministry) must do it, it is their direct responsibility. They are not the Ministry of Crime, so they cannot commit crimes, but the Ministry of Defense, so they are obliged to defend the country, ”he said.
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region said on Monday that a “sabotage group” Ukrainian had entered Russian territory in the district of Graivoronbordering Ukraine, and was being repelled by Russian forces.
The telegram channel Assetwhich has ties to Russian security services, released aerial images that appeared to show a Ukrainian armored vehicle advancing towards the Graivoron border checkpoint.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskovdeclared that the president Vladimir Putin had been informed and that work was underway to expel the “saboteurs”, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti.
The Governor of Belgorod, Viacheslav Gladkov, stated on Telegram that the Russian army, the border guard, the presidential guard and the FSB security service participated in the operation. He stated that no civilians had been injured and that no evacuation was taking place.
Asset He said there were signs of fighting in three settlements along the main border road leading into Russia. The Telegram channel “Open Belgorod” said that electricity and water had been cut off in several villages.
For its part, Ukraine denied being involved in the alleged incursion into Russian territory.
“Ukraine is watching the events in the Russian Belgorod region with interest and studies the situation, but has nothing to do with it,” the Ukrainian presidential adviser said. Mikhaylo Podolyak.
Statements about Bakhmut
In another taunting public statement against Russia’s regular military establishment, Prigozhin He also repeated his promise to withdraw his mercenaries from the city of Bakhmut as of May 25, ceding control to government forces.
He accused the military of having abandoned the flanks before the advance of his mercenaries, which the Ministry of Defense denies.
“If there were not enough units of the Ministry of Defense [para encargarse de Bakhmut]there are thousands of generals [para hacerlo]you have to form a regiment of generals, give them all rifles and everything will be fine,” Prigozhin commented, in a veiled criticism of the Russian military high command.
For their part, the Ukrainian forces affirm that they continue advancing on the north and south flanks of the city, in an attempt to encircle and trap the Russian troops inside.
The next few weeks will show to what extent the huge losses in the Bakhmut have had repercussions on the war in general.
Keep reading:
Ukraine denied having any relationship with the Russian dissident brigades that carried out an operation in Belgorod
Putin’s mercenaries announced that they will leave their positions in Bakhmut to the Russian army by June 1
Source-www.infobae.com