Kadyrov Calls on Russian Defense Ministry to Resolve Situation Around Wagner Group

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has urged the Russian Ministry of Defense to address the situation surrounding the Wagner Group.

Kadyrov reached out to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, requesting them to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Wagner Group. He called on the ministry to either provide ammunition to the Wagner fighters or clarify their absence.

As Kadyrov noted, there are always shortages of shells during wartime.

"It is unpleasant for me to hear the recent statements from Yevgeny Viktorovich, and it is doubly unpleasant that the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense does not comment or meet with the leadership of the Wagner Group to adopt any decisions or clarifications," he stated.

Kadyrov emphasized that the interests of the state and the security of the country must come first, especially in the context of the Special Operation. He also mentioned that the fighters of the 'Akhmat' special forces unit are prepared to be stationed in the positions left by the Wagner forces in Artemovsk (Bakhmut).

Earlier, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin announced that on May 10, the group would hand over its positions in Artemovsk to the Russian Armed Forces and would begin to restore its forces in the rear.

The entrepreneur’s press service also published an official statement regarding the dire situation of their units due to the lack of shells and significant losses.

Prigozhin emphasized that he has repeatedly communicated issues related to ammunition and requested supplies from the military department since March 2023, but the problem has never been resolved.