Vladimir Putin’s worst-case scenario in Ukraine has allegedly been unfolding as Russian mercenary fighters admit the Kremlin’s war is failing.
The Russian President suffered a major setback after Moscow confirmed Putin's soldiers have retreated from one area near the eastern town of Bakhmut.
Russia's Defence Ministry in Moscow claimed the repositioning of troops was strategic, adding soldiers were being moved to "more favourable positions".
Putin's men have taken up position near the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut.
The Wagner Group's boss Yevgeny Prigozhin admits that Ukraine's counter-attack has been successful
Reuters
Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is heading up mercenary soldiers assembled in the Wagner Group's ranks, warned that the defence ministry had described a "rout" rather than a tactical withdrawal.
Prigozhin's men have been involved in the vast majority of fighting in and around Bakhmut.
He said: “The situation on the flanks is shaping up according to the worst predicted scenario."
Prigozhin, who has locked horns with many in the Kremlin over Russia's military strategy, sarcastically asked Sergei Shoigu about the situation.
Ukraine's troops have pushed back Russian troops
Reuters
While addressing Russia's defence minister, Prigozhin quipped: "Given your super long experience, please can you come to Bakhmut?"
But Prigozhin also praised Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelensky for the ex-Soviet state's successful war strategy.
He added: “When Volodymyr Zelensky said [the counter-offensive] hasn't started yet, he was economical with the truth.
"It is going full steam ahead - Ukrainian units are attacking successfully."
Vladimir Putin is said to be facing his 'worst case scenario'
ReutersPrigozhin’s latest bombshell comes after he threatened to pull the Wagner Group out of Ukraine because Russia were "starving them off ammunition."
The 61-year-old, known by many as Putin's chef, appeared to seemingly confirm reports which indicated that Ukraine had forced Russian troops to retreat from a town close to Bakhmut.
The Ukrainian troops reportedly forced their Russian rivals back two kilometres behind their lines.
Russian officials said in a statement that Ukraine "deployed more than a thousand troops and around 40 tanks in 26 attempted attacks across a frontline extending over 95kilometres close to the Moscow-held town of Soledar".
Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as 'Putin's chef, heads up the mercenary Wagner Group
ReutersBut the defiant Russian ministry insisted Ukraine’s attempts were unsuccessful, declaring: "All the attacks by Ukrainian army units were rebuffed.
“No breakthroughs in the defensive lines of Russian forces were allowed to take place."
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also revealed Ukraine had "likely" breached Russian lines near Bakhmut.
It said on Twitter: "Ukrainian forces likely broke through some Russian lines in localised counter-attacks near Bakhmut, prompting responses from Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD).
"Ukrainian forces continued to conduct successful but localised counter-attacks around Bakhmut on May 11, likely constraining Russian offensive efforts."
