In a video released by his press service on Saturday night, Yevgeny Prigoyine, the leader of the paramilitary group Wagner, spoke about the reasons why his fighters managed to capture the town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine, an announcement that Kyiv has consistently denied. He says his men are very experienced and “accomplish all their objectives independently” having their own aircraft, artillery pieces and armored vehicles.
“The most important thing is the perfectly mature guide system. The Wagner Group listens to everyone, everyone can express their opinion,” assured Evguéni Prigojine. But “after a decision is made, all missions are carried out, no one can go back. It is the toughest discipline that gives us this opportunity,” he continued, clad in camouflage clothing alongside a man he presented as Wagner’s commander at the Battle of Soledar.
Rising ratings
These statements by Yevgeny Prigoyine appear as a new veiled criticism of the Russian military high command, which even some supporters of Vladimir Putin have accused of lacking coordination and detachment from the realities on the ground. In recent months, Yevgeny Prigozhin has repeatedly criticized Russian troop commanders, including during Ukraine’s military victories this fall in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
On Friday, the Russian military announced the capture of Soledar without first mentioning Wagner’s fighters. Evguéni Prigojine then regretted his group’s “constant attempts to steal victories” via his press service. Rarely did the Russian Defense Ministry then issue a press release praising the “courage” of Wagner’s men at Soledar.