https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-on-russias-frontlines?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Wagner group accused of stoking ‘anarchy’ on Russia’s frontlines
Kremlin commander claimed the mercenaries had kidnapped and tortured his soldiers during battle for Bakhmut
The Wagner group has been accused of stoking “anarchy” on Russia’s frontlines after one of the Kremlin’s military commanders claimed Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mercenaries had kidnapped and tortured his soldiers during the battle for Bakhmut.
In a video posted online, Lt Col Roman Venevitin also accused Wagner soldiers of stealing arms, forcing mobilised soldiers to sign contracts with Wagner, and attempting to extort weapons from the Russian defence ministry in exchange for releasing kidnapped soldiers.
The circumstances surrounding the abduction and subsequent accusations made by Venevitin, who called himself the “already former commander” of Russia’s 72nd Independent Motorised Rifle Brigade, remain unclear. His current whereabouts is not known and it is unclear if the new comments, like those previously, were made under duress. The Guardian was not able to reach Venevitin or independently verify his claims.
The kidnapping of Venevitin, which was made public when Prigozhin released a video of his soldiers interrogating the active duty military commander, have already shown that the infighting in the Russian ranks had moved beyond words into physical clashes and ambushes.
If true, the accusations would shed new light on the severity of the infighting between Prigozhin and the Russian military, whom the Kremlin-linked tycoon has accused of depriving his mercenaries of shells and of intentionally firing on his fighters while both were engaged with the Ukrainian army in the city of Bakhmut.
Wagner group accused of stoking ‘anarchy’ on Russia’s frontlines
Kremlin commander claimed the mercenaries had kidnapped and tortured his soldiers during battle for Bakhmut
The Wagner group has been accused of stoking “anarchy” on Russia’s frontlines after one of the Kremlin’s military commanders claimed Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mercenaries had kidnapped and tortured his soldiers during the battle for Bakhmut.
In a video posted online, Lt Col Roman Venevitin also accused Wagner soldiers of stealing arms, forcing mobilised soldiers to sign contracts with Wagner, and attempting to extort weapons from the Russian defence ministry in exchange for releasing kidnapped soldiers.
The circumstances surrounding the abduction and subsequent accusations made by Venevitin, who called himself the “already former commander” of Russia’s 72nd Independent Motorised Rifle Brigade, remain unclear. His current whereabouts is not known and it is unclear if the new comments, like those previously, were made under duress. The Guardian was not able to reach Venevitin or independently verify his claims.
The kidnapping of Venevitin, which was made public when Prigozhin released a video of his soldiers interrogating the active duty military commander, have already shown that the infighting in the Russian ranks had moved beyond words into physical clashes and ambushes.
If true, the accusations would shed new light on the severity of the infighting between Prigozhin and the Russian military, whom the Kremlin-linked tycoon has accused of depriving his mercenaries of shells and of intentionally firing on his fighters while both were engaged with the Ukrainian army in the city of Bakhmut.
