Russian Mercenary Leader's Betrayal? "I Will Reveal Russian Troop Positions" to Ukraine

WP, Citing US Government Classified Documents
Prigozhin Also Advises "Crimea Peninsula Attack" to Ukraine

The Russian private military company Wagner Group reportedly offered to reveal the positions of Russian regular troops to the Ukrainian military on the condition of their withdrawal.

On the 14th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) cited leaked confidential U.S. government documents obtained through the online chat platform Discord, reporting that Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin proposed to the Ukrainian forces at the end of January this year, "If the Ukrainian command withdraws from the Bakhmut area, I will disclose the positions of the Russian troops." Bakhmut, located in eastern Ukraine, is the fiercest battleground in the current war.

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by AP and Yonhap News

According to the report, this proposal was made through a liaison affiliated with the Ukrainian military intelligence agency with whom Prigozhin secretly communicated during the war. Two Ukrainian officials also confirmed that Prigozhin had multiple contacts with Ukraine's Ministry of Defense Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

In the documents, Prigozhin lamented Wagner's heavy losses to Ukraine and urged the Ukrainian side to intensify attacks against the Russian regular forces. He also advised that Ukraine should take advantage of the Russian military's difficulties in ammunition supply and declining morale to launch attacks on the border area of the Crimean Peninsula.

Recently, Prigozhin has openly expressed dissatisfaction with the Russian Ministry of Defense for not properly supporting Wagner. Earlier this month, he declared a withdrawal from Bakhmut due to a shortage of ammunition support but later reversed the decision after receiving a promise of ammunition supply from the Russian military.

WP reported that amid rising tensions, Prigozhin maintained a secret relationship with HUR, extending beyond phone calls to face-to-face meetings in Africa. However, it is not uncommon for some communication channels to be maintained between parties during wartime, and it is difficult to discern Prigozhin's intentions based solely on the documents.

Meanwhile, after reports emerged that he had contacted the Ukrainian military, Prigozhin stated on his Telegram channel on the 14th, "There is nothing to hide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.