Kiev (EFE).- The Ukrainian presidency considers that the head of the Wagner group of Russian mercenaries, Yevgueni Prigozhin, humiliated the Kremlin and evidenced the erosion of President Vladimir Putin’s power, despite his refusal to advance on Moscow after negotiating his withdrawal with Belarus.
“It was a phenomenal election… You almost override Putin, seize control of the central authorities, and suddenly you retire… because a disreputable intermediary (Alekandr) Lukashenko promises you security guarantees,” wrote the adviser to the presidency, Mikhailo Podoliak. , on his twitter account.
The “Putin elite” has lived 24 hours in fear, continues the message of the president’s adviser Volodimir Zelenski, to finally assert that Prigozhin “humiliated” the Kremli leader with this and demonstrated that he does not have the “monopoly of violence”.
Crisis precipitated by Wagner’s control over Rostov-on-Don
Podoliak’s message follows the crisis precipitated yesterday by the Wagner group’s takeover of the city of Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, and the subsequent advance of its fighters in the direction of Moscow.
Finally, the leader of the Wagner group himself announced his withdrawal, after mediation by Lukashenko, and the return of his fighters to the permanent bases, arguing that this would prevent bloodshed.
Their columns were some 200 kilometers from Moscow and, after the withdrawal announcement, the “Wagnerites” themselves began their return to the group’s permanent bases from the city of Rostov-on-Don.
The crisis had started the night before, when Prigozhin crossed with 25,000 men, according to what he claimed, the Russian border into the Rostov region from Ukraine to advance throughout Saturday towards the capital.
According to the Kremlin, part of the agreement reached through the mediation of Lukanshenko consists of Prigozhin moving to Belarus and that there are charges against him, as well as that the “Wagnerites” who were part of his mutiny are not prosecuted.
Ukraine launches about 80 shells at Russia’s Belgorod region in 24 hours
The Ukrainian Armed Forces fired around 80 shells at various towns in the Belgorod border region over the past 24 hours, according to the local governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov.
“In the Graivoron district, 34 mortar shells were fired at the border checkpoint in the town of Kózinka and six at the Ponuri village. In the city of Graivoron, the enemy launched an explosive device from a drone against a house, ”he reported on his Telegram channel.
As a result of the attack there were no casualties, he said.
In addition, he pointed out that the Ukrainian forces attacked the towns of Krasni Jutor and Zhuravilovka on Saturday, bombarding them with seven and three artillery shells, respectively.
In the Borisovsky district, the Ukrainians fired eight times at the town of Beriozovka.
In the Valuysk district, the town of Kukuyevka was attacked twice, as was the town of Stariy in the Volokolonsky district.
“In the Shebékino district, the towns of Belianka and Nóvaya Tavolzhanka were attacked with mortar fire, six and two attacks were detected respectively. Five mortar shells were launched against the town of Pankov and three against Terezovka,” Gladkov reported.
UK sees ‘gradual but solid’ tactical progress by Ukrainian units
For their part, Ukrainian units fighting against Russia are making “gradual but solid” tactical progress in “key” areas of the country, according to the latest military intelligence report released this Sunday by the British Ministry of Defense.
In a statement posted on his Twitter account, that military report indicates that “in recent days, the Ukrainian forces have reconfigured and, once again, have undertaken major offensive operations on three main axes in the south and east of Ukraine.” .
According to this, Ukraine “is using the experiences of the first two weeks of the counteroffensive to refine tactics to attack Russia’s deep and well-prepared defenses.”
“Ukrainian units are making gradual but solid tactical progress in key areas,” Defense notes.
In the Lugansk region, Russian forces have made their own “significant efforts to launch an attack in the Serebryanka forest, close to Kremina,” according to the statement.
“This probably reflects – adds the military party – that the Russian leadership at the highest level orders to go on the offensive whenever possible.”
Defense further notes that “Russia has made some small gains but Ukrainian forces have prevented a significant breakthrough.”