Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has revealed that Ukrainian forces have counter-attacked Russian positions around Bakhmut.
Yevgeny Prigozhin says things are looking bleak for Russia in Bakhmut
The boss of the Russian mercenary group has admitted that "the worst predicted scenario" is unfolding for Vladimir Putin's troops in the besieged Ukrainian city and mocked the Kremlin's defence secretary Sergei Shoigu.
Prigozhin - who is nicknamed 'Putin's chef' as he owns restaurants and catering companies that provide services for the Russian government - said: "The situation on the flanks is shaping up according to the worst predicted scenario.
"Those territories, which were taken with the blood and lives of our comrades-in-arms for many months, every day, by tens or hundreds of metres are now being thrown almost without a fight by those (Russian army soldiers) who are supposed to hold our flanks."
Directly addressing the beleaguered Shoigu, Prigozhin added: "Given your super long experience, please can you come to Bakhmut?"
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky had suggested that his troops were not yet ready to make the long-awaited counter-offensive but Prigozhin says that Kyiv has been "economical with the truth".
The warlord said: "When Volodymyr Zelensky said (the counter-offensive) hasn't started yet, he was economical with the truth.
"It is going full steam ahead - Ukrainian units are attacking successfully."
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