Prigozhin says Wagner group is ready to enter the Belgorod region and carry out a "cleanup" there
But they will do it only if they are provided with ammunition
Wagner group mercenaries will go to defend the Belgorod region from shelling and saboteurs if the Russian Defense Ministry fails to cope with this task in the shortest possible time.
This was stated by the founder of the Wagner Group, Yevhen Prigozhin.
"If the Ministry of Defense (of the Russian Federation) does not stop the lawlessness that is happening with the seizure of the territories of the Russian Federation in the near future, we will come to the Belgorod region and protect our Russian people: Russians, Dagestanis, Chechens and ethnic Ukrainians, among others," Prigozhin emphasized.
According to him, the Wagnerites will not need any permission from above or approval from the leadership of the Defense Ministry.
"We will not wait for an invitation or ask for permission. The only thing is that we will need ammunition, it makes no sense to come without it," Prigozhin added.
The day before, he said that the Wagner group had almost completely left Bakhmut, handing over its positions to regular Russian army units, as the militants went to the rear "for rest and retraining." At the same time, Prigozhin accused the military from the Russian Defense Ministry of trying to mine the escape routes of his mercenaries.
Since May, the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine has been under intense shelling. On June 2 alone, local authorities recorded 570 shell hits and reported 7 deaths.
The town of Shebekino was hit hardest, with "continuous shelling" leading to a mass evacuation of residents. The town has no electricity, water or communication. Looters took advantage of the situation and started looting shops.
According to local authorities, more than 2,500 people are currently staying in temporary accommodation centers. In addition, 1,100 children were taken to other regions of Russia for vacation. However, as it turned out, their evacuation was paid for – 3000 rubles per child.
Background. As reported, the Kremlin expects to replace the Wagner group with fighters of the Chechen special forces "Akhmat" after Prigozhin's mercenaries leave the front line, ISW experts write.
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