Founder of Russia’s Wagner group says his forces will leave Ukraine’s Bakhmut

Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russia’s Wagner Group mercenary force, said in a sudden and dramatic announcement on Friday that his forces would leave the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut that they have been trying to capture since last summer.
Prigozhin said they would pull back on May 10 - ending their involvement in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war - because of heavy losses and inadequate ammunition supplies. He asked defense chiefs to insert regular army troops in their place. [west media]

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 Fighters of Russia’s Wagner private military company (PMC) will hand over their positions in Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut by Ukraine) to Russian troops on May 10 to preserve personnel and get a rest in the rear, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video uploaded on his press office’s Telegram channel on Friday.

"From May 10, 2023, we are leaving the settlement of Bakhmut," he said.

Wagner fighters will remain at their positions in Artyomovsk until May 9 and will then "leave for rear camps," to "lick wounds" there, he added.

"I request the chief of the General Staff to sign a combat order for the Wagner PMC to hand over the positions in the settlement of Bakhmut to Defense Ministry troops," the video address says.

Prigozhin also asserted that Wagner fighters experienced a shortage of ammunition.[TASS]