“Wagner’s units took control of the entire Soledar area. I emphasize that no units other than Wagner’s fighters were involved in the attack on Soledar.” The head of the mercenaries Wagner – the businessman nicknamed “Putin’s cook” – disclosed this a few days ago through his company’s press office. British and American military experts have confirmed the presence of Wagner mercenaries in the Donbass region of Ukraine and in Soledar.
But the Kremlin’s most recent decisions – such as the change in military leadership – are seen as moves against Prigozhin. And in the official statement of the Ministry of Defense of Russia on the situation at the front in Soledar, Ukraine, there was no mention of the Wagner group. According to Moscow, the strategically important location – close to the city of Bakhmut, which had been fought over for months – was by no means occupied by Russia at the time.
Financial Times correspondent Christipher Miller tweeted: “Soledar would be the first Russian battlefield victory in months – but a Pyrrhic victory. I spent a lot of time in Soledar and Bakhmut (lived there for years and covered it for many more years) ) . The mines around Soledar and Bakhmut consist of 125 miles of underground tunnels. There’s no way Prigozhin can control everything.”
Ukrainian reports and videos circulating the Internet also continue to show Ukrainian soldiers in Soledar.
Was Prigozhin in Soledar?
The photos are supposed to show former prisoner Prigozhin in a mine in Soledar.
But it has been disputed whether Wagner’s boss was actually there.
On January 10, the Wagner troupe released a video that allegedly showed that their mercenaries controlled the city of Soledar. Some of Wagner’s mercenaries apparently wear Ukrainian uniforms – a tactic used by fighters known for their ruthlessness, according to media reports.
Among others, the anti-Kremlin platform Nexta distributed the video on January 10.
Is Prigozhin losing influence in the Kremlin?
There has been speculation for several months that Prigozhin is aiming for a top job in the Kremlin. Partly along with the ruler of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, Yevgeny Prigozhin has repeatedly criticized the Russian military leadership. One of the main military figures targeted by Prigozhin and Kadyrov was Colonel-General Alexander Lapin.
Now, the Tass agency reported that Colonel General Alexander Lapin has been appointed chief of staff of the ground forces. According to Russian media reports, General Lapin’s new post is also a warning to oligarch Prigozhin.
Furthermore, the President of Russia, President Vladimir Putin, deposed the Russian Supreme Commander in Ukraine just three months after taking office. Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov must now lead the war or the so-called “special military operation”. General Gerasimov replaces Sergei Surovikin, blamed for the recent brutal attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The British Specialist Rob Lee writes on Twitter on changing posts within the Russian army: “It reaffirms the position of the Ministry of Defense in overseeing the war. Prigozhin praised Surovikin while criticizing Lapin and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. This may also be in part a reaction to the ever-increasing speech Wagner’s most influential and public role being at war.”