Tensions between the Wagner mercenary group and the Russian army have escalated following an incident during which a regular Russian army officer allegedly fired at a Wagner car in Ukraine. The officer claimed in a video that he was intoxicated at the time and acted out of personal animosity in the direction of the group. This comes after Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused the Russian military of planting explosives on roads utilized by Wagner fighters to exit town of Bakhmut.
The Wagner group led the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which grew to become the longest and bloodiest battle of the struggle. Last month, the group claimed to have taken full control of the town and deliberate to transfer management to the Russian military. In the video posted on Prigozhin’s press workplace Telegram channel, the Russian officer is seen being questioned in regards to the incident. Easy admits to opening fireplace on a Wagner car while intoxicated as a outcome of his “personal animosity” in path of the group.
The officer additionally claims that between 10 and 12 of his subordinates disarmed a group of Wagner fighters, though it is unclear if this was a half of the identical incident. When requested why he dislikes the Wagner group, he responded that he “doesn’t know”. Prigozhin revealed the video as proof of the defence ministry’s involvement within the explosives incident, though the officer seems to be discussing a separate occasion..