Putin’s Chef Yevgeny Prigozhin Withdraws Wagner Mercenary Group from Ukraine War Effort, Raising Questions About Russia’s Ability to Sustain Offensive Operations

The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has dealt a potentially devastating blow to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine on Friday. Prigozhin, who is also known as “Putin’s chef” due to his close ties to the Russian President, unleashed a public tirade at the country’s military commanders and announced that his forces would withdraw from the high-profile battle for Bakhmut due to a lack of military support.

This news comes after a senior U.S. official cast serious doubt Thursday over Russia’s ability to continue waging its war in Ukraine. The official noted that an ammunition shortage was a clear and pressing concern for Moscow, and that this could drive a wedge between the defense ministry and the private mercenary army that has done much of the fighting at the Kremlin’s behest.

In response to this, Prigozhin posted an expletive-laden rant on social media, expressing his frustration at the lack of ammunition supplies. He then announced that he would hand over control of the grueling Bakhmut offensive to the Russian army forces next week.

The news of Prigozhin’s withdrawal from the battle for Bakhmut has raised serious questions about Russia’s ability to sustain even modest offensive operations in Ukraine this year. It remains to be seen how this will affect the country’s war effort in the region, and whether the Russian army will be able to take up the mantle of the Wagner mercenary group.