The Russian private military group Wagner began handing over its positions in Bakhmut to regular forces yesterday, Thursday, after five days of declaring complete control over the city located in eastern Ukraine following a deadly battle that was the longest during the war. Moscow claims that seizing Bakhmut opens the path for further advances in the eastern industrial region known as Donbas. Kyiv asserts that the battle attracted Russian forces to the city, causing significant losses and weakening Moscow's defensive lines elsewhere.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, who has repeatedly accused the Russian army of abandoning territories previously seized by his men, stated that the group would be ready to return to the city if necessary. In a video clip where he appeared in combat gear standing next to an apartment building destroyed by fighting, Prigozhin said, "Starting from 5 AM on May 25 until June 1, most units will reposition to camps in the rear. We are handing over our positions to the army." He claimed that 20,000 of his fighters died to seize Bakhmut.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated in a message via the Telegram app that the mercenary group had handed over positions on the outskirts of the city, but "Wagner fighters are still inside the city itself."
Russia has moved forward with plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in its neighbor and ally Belarus, having signed an agreement to store warheads there. This will be the first time the Kremlin has deployed such bombs outside of Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters yesterday in Moscow, where he attended talks with other leaders from former Soviet states, that "the transfer of nuclear weapons has already begun."
The U.S. State Department condemned the weapons deployment plan but stated that Washington has no intention of changing its position on strategic nuclear weapons and has seen no indications that Russia is preparing to use any nuclear weapons. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "It is the latest example of the irresponsible behavior we see from Russia."
Yesterday, Russia indicated that if its demands related to facilitating the exports of its grains and fertilizers are not met, it will not extend the agreement allowing the export of those same products from three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea beyond July 17. Moscow issued the same threat and demands in March, then agreed last week to extend the agreement for 60 days. The agreement was originally established last July between Moscow and Kyiv with the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey in an effort to alleviate the global commodity crisis exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian President’s Office Director Andriy Yermak was quoted in an interview with the Interfax Ukraine agency saying, "There is no force that can compel Ukrainian society and its leaders to talk to the Russians. Not while Russian troops remain here."
Russian forces have controlled parts of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the war, and Kyiv is planning a major counteroffensive to reclaim these territories using modern weapons provided by Western allies and forces recently trained in Europe. Russia has constructed extensive fortifications in eastern and southern Ukraine in preparation for the counteroffensive.
In a prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine welcomed back 106 soldiers who were captured in Bakhmut. Moscow confirmed the exchange, stating that Wagner participated in it but did not mention the number of Russians who were released.
