The head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, again released a video message in which he criticized the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and stated that the PMC had so far provided 10% of the requested ammunition. The post was posted by his press office.
According to him, PMCs “will fight for a few more days,” because “if PMCs leave their positions, Ukrainians will come to Rostov.”
He also criticized the Russian authorities for broadcasting the Victory Parade on TV. “Congratulations on the victory day of our grandfathers. Why are we celebrating it is a big question. You just need to remember them and that's it. And do not hang out on Red Square, ”he said.
According to him, PMCs received a combat order that if they leave their positions, their actions will be recognized as treason. However, the head of the PMC claims that if there is no ammunition, the fighters will leave their positions anyway, and then they will already figure out who exactly “betrayed the Motherland” – they or those who sign such documents. At the same time, the order clarified that the PMC group is obliged to supply ammunition. According to Prigozhin, the person who signed the document (he does not give his last name) is afraid that if the PMC leaves, “Ukrainians will come to Rostov,” while the Defense Ministry is doing everything to “collapse the front.” One of the departments of the Ministry of Defense "ran away from one of the flanks, and exposed a section 2 kilometers wide, 500 meters deep."
“Instead of giving them [ammunition] to the troops, they are accumulated in some warehouses. For what, no one knows. And instead of spending a shell, killing the enemy, saving the life of our soldier, they kill our soldiers, and the happy grandfather thinks that he is fine. And what should the country do next? If he turns out to be right, God bless everyone. But what should the country do, what should our children, grandchildren, the future of Russia do, and how to win the war, if by chance, I just assume, it turns out that this grandfather is a complete asshole?
Earlier in May, Prigozhin first complained about the lack of ammunition and said that the Wagner PMC would leave Bakhmut, and then asked Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to transfer the Wagner PMC positions in Bakhmut to the Chechen Akhmat. However, later the founder of the PMC said that the Ministry of Defense promised to give the Wagnerites the necessary ammunition to continue further hostilities, so the mercenaries remain in the Bakhmut area.