War in Ukraine: Wagner group leader accuses Russian unit of attacking his people

A new episode in the tension between Russian troops and the Wagner group, at the height of the war in Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the paramilitary organization, said on Monday that he captured a Russian officer whose unit allegedly attacked his people.

On May 17, “people from the[Russian]Ministry of Defense were seen mining the roads behind the positions of the Wagner detachments,” according to statements by Yevgeny Prigozhin given by his press service in a report addressed to that ministry. “The Wagner fighters, who cleared the mines, were fired upon from the positions of the Ministry of Defense,” he said.

“There is an investigation going on and some facts cannot be made public,” adds the head of Wagner in an audio message that accompanies the text, “but I am putting here this initial report and video evidence of what really happened there.”

Russian lieutenant colonel in captivity?

Yevgeny Prigozhin also broadcast a video of the interrogation of a Russian officer who was presented as a prisoner. The latter explains that he is lieutenant colonel Roman Vinevitenov “commander of the 72nd motorized rifle brigade.” In the video, the man claims to have “attacked” Wagner, adding that he acted “under the influence of personal animosity,” but it is not possible to determine if he was speaking under duress.

On Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in an open conflict with the command of the Russian regular army, accused him of “ceding” territories in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine and subjected to intense bombing and ground shelling in recent days. He also stated that he was ready to send his units to protect “Russian territories” that are “actually being conquered.”

The day before, Yevgeny Prigozhin assured that Wagner’s troops left “99%” of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and ceded their positions to the regular army, announcing the capture of the city on May 20.