Prigozhin and his Wagner group are still corrupt with weapons and ammunition, and have been for weeks. Besides, Prigozhin wants more men, Hammelburg knows. “And preference is given to regular Russian soldiers,” Hammelburg says. “For me, the most important thing isn’t so much that he says it, but that it’s clear that Bachmoet hasn’t been caught yet.”
“It doesn’t look like the Russians are going to get their hands on the whole city”
Hammelburg points out that although most of Bachmut is occupied by the Russians, it does not appear that the Russians will get their hands on the entire city. “So the Ukrainians – with their stubborn policy – have achieved something about it.”
“Tactical Pause”
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) speaks of a ‘tactical pause’. The ISW thinks Wagner is waiting for more conventional Russian troops to be in the area and then withdrawing. “The arrival of more conventional Russian troops in the area may indicate that Russian forces intend to compensate for the possible peak of Wagner’s offensive operations at Bachmoet with fresh conventional troops,” the ISW said.