Wagner leader claims tens of thousands were killed in Bakhmut

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed that 20,000 of his mercenary soldiers were killed in the battle to win Bakhmut during an interview with Russian journalist Konstantin Dolgov.

"Throughout the [entire combat] operation, I recruited 50,000 prisoners, of which about 20% died. Exactly the same number died as those who signed up through a contract," Prigozhin told Dolgov in a video interview according to an English translation provided by The Moscow Times.

The Associated Press reported that Prigozhin's figures broke with Moscow's official January figures of losses, which claimed only 6000 soldiers had been killed throughout the entire course of the war.

Prigozhin revealed more than just Wagner's troop losses during his interview with Dolgov and said that Ukrainian forces were some of the fiercest fighters he and his mercenary group had ever faced.

“I can say from my own experience, we have fought in many places with many people,” Prigozhin said. “Today, the Ukrainians are one of the strongest armies. They have a top level of organization, high levels of training, and great intelligence," Prigozhin said according to The Hill.

News of 20,000 killed Wagner soldiers comes on the heels of a rough estimate from U.S. President Joe Biden that pegged Russian losses in Bakhmut at 100,000 casualties while at the G7 summit in Japan.

Biden was answering questions during a press conference at the Hilton Hiroshima when his attention was brought to the situation that was unfolding on the frontlines in Ukraine. 

Speaking first about whether or not Ukraine’s much-anticipated spring counter-offensive had begun, Biden said he couldn’t say but mentioned he had discussed it with Zelensky. 

The President explained that war was uncertain but he hoped for a successful offensive so that Russia could see the cost of fighting, specifically citing the cost to take Bakhmut.

“Bakhmut is a discussion about whether or not it's been lost or whatever,” Biden noted, referencing claims that the besieged city had finally been captured by Russian forces. 

“And, well, the truth of the matter is the Russians have suffered over 100,000 casualties in Bakhmut. That’s hard to make up. That’s hard to make up,” the President explained.

Biden has rarely given exact figures when discussing casualties in the conflict but the number he gave in Japan could be fairly accurate if paired with the other evidence. 

On May 17th, Ukraine’s General Staff noted in its daily war update that it estimated the Russians had suffered over 200,000 soldiers lost throughout the course of the conflict. 

“The figure means Russia has lost a number of troops so large – 200,590 – it surpasses many countries’ entire serving armed forces,” Kyiv Post journalist wrote on May 21st. 

It's difficult to know whether or not the numbers quoted by the Ukrainian General Staff are accurate since they could be propaganda aimed at bolstering Western support.

However, we do know from more accurate sources that the number of casualties Russia has suffered probably does surpass 200,000 according to Britain’s Defence Secretary. 

On March 29th, UK Secretary of Defence Ben Wallace said during an interview with Sky News that the latest US intelligence he had seen pushed Russian losses over 200,000.

"The Russian forces have some really significant and deep systemic problems at the moment in their efforts,” Defence Secretary Wallace explained. “The latest US assessments I have seen now put casualty figures over 220,0000 dead or injured."

If Wallace’s comments were true then it could be within the realm of possibility that Russia lost 100,000 soldiers in Bakhmut, which would be hard to make up as Biden said.  

On May 20th, Prigozhin announced in a video on his Telegram channel that his mercenary forces had finally taken full control of Bakhmut. 

Time noted Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar disputed the claim Russia had taken Bakhmut and said fighting was continuing. “The situation is critical," she said. “As of now, our defenders, control certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in this area.” But even if Russia has taken Bakhmut, was the cost in casualties really worth it?