Thread by @TheStudyofWar

NEW: #Wagner Group financier Yevgeny #Prigozhin has softened his rhetoric towards the #Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) likely out of fear of completely losing his mercenary force in #Bakhmut.

Latest on #Ukraine w/ @criticalthreats : isw.pub/UkrWar032323

2/ #Prigozhin voiced his concerns about a possible Ukrainian counteroffensive in eastern UKR during a 23-minute interview on March 23 in which he claimed that UKR has 200,000 reserves concentrating to attack along the entire eastern frontline, into Belgorod Oblast, & in Bakhmut.

3/ #Prigozhin also claimed that the Ukrainians currently have 80,000 troops in #Bakhmut, Slovyansk, and Kostyantynivka to counterattack Bakhmut – a claim that former Russian officer Igor #Girkin observed was dubious.

4/ #Prigozhin‘s exaggerated statements about the imminent threat to #Russian forces are likely an attempt to secure more supplies and reinforcements from the Russian MoD to save his forces in #Bakhmut.

5/ #Prigozhin made several positive statements about the #Russian MoD, even acknowledging that Russian MoD forces are fighting alongside Chechen units in Bilohorivka, #Luhansk Oblast.

6/ #Prigozhin also surprisingly promoted both #Russian MoD-controlled volunteer recruitment efforts and recruitment into #Wagner, instead of only advertising service with Wagner formations as he has usually done.

7/ #Prigozhin had been an avid critic of the #Russian military command, and the softening of his rhetoric may indicate that he may be attempting to partially appease the Russian MoD to gain supplies or reinforcements for #Wagner forces in #Bakhmut. isw.pub/UkrWar032323