The founder of the Russian PMC "Wagner", Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation of "cruel treatment" of the mercenaries of the PVK, according to the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for February 22.
"Prigohyn accused the Ministry of Defense of lying about the supply of all informal units with the requested artillery ammunition, saying instead that the PMK units receive only 20% of the artillery ammunition promised to them," the report reads.
It emphasizes that this accusation caused a great debate among the so-called of "Russian soldiers", part of which supported Prigozhin, while another part stated that currently the supply of ammunition to the Wagnerites takes place in the same way as the supply of units that are directly part of the structure of the Russian army.
At the same time, analysts clarify that Prigozhin's complaints also confirm that his earlier statements about the independence of Wagner PMC from the Russian Ministry of Defense were boasts and lies.
In addition, the report reports that Ukrainian intelligence officials continue to believe that Russia lacks the combat power and resources needed to continue its new offensive operations in Ukraine.
Thus, the head of the GUR Kyrylo Budanov stated in an interview with one of the publications that the Russian offensive is so ineffective that it is practically imperceptible, and noted that the Russian forces are storing shells and ammunition to support the offensive in the Bakhmut, Liman and Ughledar directions, saving them for others directions
At the same time, analysts are convinced that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has revived his imperialist narrative that Russia is fighting for its "historical borders", which he similarly voiced in his speech before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking about the situation on the battlefield, the institute noted that the Russian occupiers continue to try to advance in several directions in Donetsk region, as well as on the Kupyansk-Lyman line.
In turn, the Ukrainian military conducts successful local counterattacks in the Bakhmut region and strikes at the rear positions of the occupiers in the temporarily occupied territories.