The Kremlin has addressed rumors that the head of the Wagner group, according to the Washington Post, wanted to provide Kyiv with information about the position of Russian troops in Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
“It looks like another rumor. Unfortunately, in recent years, even respected publications have not escaped this practice,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press conference in Moscow.
According to the American newspaper The Washington Post, citing alleged documents from US intelligence agencies, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin proposed in January last year to transfer information to the Military Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR).
According to the newspaper, a Russian oligarch, the head of a company of Wagner mercenaries, offered to report on the position of regular Russian troops in Bakhmut in connection with the numerous losses suffered by contract fighters in the Ukrainian city.
Yevgeny Prigozhin allegedly intended to negotiate the withdrawal of Wagner mercenaries, who are fighting in eastern Ukraine on Moscow’s fees.
The newspaper also mentions that this is not the first time that Progozhin has maintained “secret ties” with the intelligence services of the Ukrainian forces since the invasion began in February 2022.
The documents cited by the Washington Post do not clarify the position that the Russian oligarch allegedly tried to expose.
The same report, citing a Ukrainian official, indicated that this was not the first time such an offer had been made and that, as on previous occasions, it had been rejected by Ukraine for fear of being “false information.”
Recently, Progozhin has publicly condemned and criticized Moscow for the lack of supplies of weapons and ammunition to contract soldiers in Bakhmut.
Last Friday, the oligarch again accused the Russian Defense Ministry of lying about the military campaign in Ukraine.
In the same message circulated on social media, the head of the Wagner Group said Ukrainian forces had moved up to 500 meters closer to Russian positions as regular troops in Moscow withdrew from positions they had occupied since last summer. .
Information about the situation on the ground has not yet been verified by independent experts.
On Monday morning, the Ukrainian army said it had achieved “first success” in its offensive in Bakhmut.
“The advance of troops in the Bakhmut zone is the first success of an offensive” aimed at defending the city, which Russian troops have been trying to take since last summer, said Alexander Syrsky, commander of the Ukrainian ground forces.
Syrsky’s statement was circulated by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Information about the alleged success of the Ukrainian campaign has also not been confirmed by independent experts.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar said that the Kyiv troops “have been advancing for several days” towards Bakhmut.
“Fierce fighting continues. The defense of Bakhmut continues,” Maliar said in a message on the Telegram digital system.
Russian forces continue to control “most of the city,” but over the weekend, Ukrainian troops retook 17 square kilometers in the Bakhmut area.
Information released on Monday by Kiev about the military situation in Bakhmut coincided with the fact that the head of the Ukrainian state announced via the social network Twitter that after a trip to Rome he would meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London. , Berlin and Paris.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.