Analysts suggest that the role of Prigozhin’s mercenaries in the operations around Bakhmut is likely to continue to contribute to the split between different factions of the Russian army.

The Russian occupiers continue their attempts to seize Bakhmut in Donetsk region. Fighters of the “Wagner” PVC are fighting unsuccessfully in this direction.

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts explained that because of the “Wagnerians” the split in the Russian army is intensifying.

Thus, recently the puppet of the Kremlin, Denys Pushylin, said that together with the fighters of “Wagner”, the forces of the “DNR” take part in the battles in this area. The leader of the militants was immediately criticized by Russian media bloggers, who denied the involvement of the “DNR” in the battles near Bakhmut.

“The discrepancies between Pushylin’s statements and the speeches of Prigozhin and other well-known persons in the information space of the Russian Federation indicate that the split between the “DPR” and the “Wagnerians” continues and grows,” analysts believe.

According to experts, the role of Prigozhin’s mercenaries in the operations around Bakhmut could contribute to a split between different factions in the Russian army, as well as discredit the Kremlin’s puppets from the “DNR” and the militants they command.

The situation near Bakhmut

Fierce battles for Bakhmut have been going on for more than a month. On December 17, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported that the occupiers continue to try to break through the defenses in the Bakhmut and Avdiiv areas, but they are not succeeding.

The Armed Forces explained that Ukrainian defenders are holding the defense of Bakhmut in order to achieve important goals. The Ukrainian military does not allow the occupiers to enter the operational space.