UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 459 - MAY 26, 2023

The financier of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claims that the Wagner forces continue to turn over positions in Bakhmut to the Russian Ministry of Defense and withdraw from the city.

On May 26, Wagner's financier Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that the Ministry of Defense was fulfilling its agreement by actively transferring regular Russian units to the Wagner-held positions in the city of Bakhmut. Prigozhin claims that Wagner is conducting an organized withdrawal from Bakhmut and affirms that the Russian Ministry of Defense will fully control the city and its surroundings by June 1. A Russian military blogger published footage showing Prigozhin visiting Russian positions allegedly being taken over by the Wagner forces. ISW has not received visual confirmation of regular Russian forces taking over Wagner positions in Bakhmut itself or of Wagner leaving the city. ISW recently observed footage allegedly showing elements of the 123rd Brigade of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), likely previously stationed near Siversk and operating in the Bakhmut area, and DNR forces could replace Wagner formations.

The full Russian Offensive Update 459 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR online