Wagner’s leader has escalated criticism of Russia’s military leadership.

Ukraine’s claim to victory in the battle for the devastated city of Bakhmut in the east is set against a backdrop of increasingly sharp missions against the Russian military leadership of Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner militia whose forces have been at the forefront of the fight against Russia. fight for the city.

In recent days, Mr. Prigozhin has been recording graphic and expletive-laden videos accusing Russia’s senior generals of denying his forces necessary supplies, such as ammunition. On Tuesday, he appeared to take his attacks even further by publishing a video that some observers interpreted as direct criticism of Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin.

Ukrainian weapons “kill our soldiers, while a lucky grandpa thinks he’s fine,” Prigozhin said in the video. Mr Putin’s opponents usually refer to him as ‘grandfather’.

On Wednesday, Mr Prigozhin said “grandpa” referred to a senior Russian military official whose name he did not specify. Mr Prigozhin, a tycoon who made part of his fortune from Kremlin catering contracts, has taken care to avoid direct criticism of Mr Putin.

The 11-month battle for Bakhmut has taken on symbolic significance for both sides that goes far beyond the city’s direct strategic value. Russia and Ukraine deployed troops and suffered a high casualty rate, although military experts say more casualties were suffered by Russia’s forces than Ukraine’s.

Last week, Mr. Prigozhin to withdraw his troops from Bakhmut due to insufficient ammunition. He released a video showing him among the bodies he claimed were Wagner fighters killed in the battle for the city. deaths. He later backtracked on that threat, saying he was promised more ammunition, but in the video released Tuesday, he reiterated his complaints about the lack of supplies.

He warned that the Ukrainian forces were mustering troops for an expected counter-offensive and doing their utmost to crumble the Russian front, though he claims Wagner fighters in the city of Bakhmut itself continue to make sluggish progress.

“Today they are tearing the flanks towards Artemovsk,” he said, using the Russian name for Bakhmut. “They are regrouping in Zaporizhzhia and a counter-offensive will begin in the near future.” Zaporizhzhia is one of two regions in southern Ukraine that Russian forces have partially occupied since launching their full-scale invasion last year.

Despite his disagreement over ammunition supplies, Mr Prigozhin said his troops would continue to fight in Bakhmut for the time being. “We will continue to push for a few more days,” he said. “Let’s fight.”