There was a drama several days ago that ended recently.
Russian MOD claim on supplying the Wagner PMC after Wagner complained of inadequate supply:
"Over the past 48 hours, the assault detachments have advanced a total of over 2.5 kilometres towards the prepared defensive positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Artyomovsk. The successful operations would have been impossible without entire fire support, provided to the offensive by the artillery, armoured hardware, and other firepower of the 'Yug' Group of Forces. Despite the difficult weather conditions near Artyomovsk, the Ground-Attack Aviation has performed 18 sorties to support the assault detachments' offensive operations over the recent days. This is why all the statements on the lack of ordnance, allegedly made by the assault detachments, have nothing to do with the reality.
Thus, within the 48 hours from 18 to 20 February, the volunteers of the assault detachments have been provided with: 1,660 rocket-propelled projectiles for multiple-launch rocket systems, 10,171 projectiles for large-calibre cannon artillery systems and mortars; 980 projectiles for tanks."
" In the next few days, all the ordnance requests, applied for February, will be implemented for all the assault detachments. Since 25 February, all the range of ordnance will be delivered in accordance with the request, applied for March. In total, over the last year, the assault detachments' ordnance demands had been satisfied 140 percent of the requests received. This is our priority."
If accurate gives an interesting approximation as to how much the Wagner PMC receives
Prizoghin responded by posted this data. Then the matter was settled according to him:
"
Prigozhin: Wagner PMC would receive the necessary ammunition.
"Today at 6 am it was reported that the shipment begins. Most likely, the train has moved. So far on paper, but, as we were told, the main papers have already been signed. I would like to thank all those who have helped us to do so. You have saved hundreds, maybe thousands, of the lives of the guys who are defending their homeland, giving them the opportunity to live on. Their mothers and their children will not receive coffins with their bodies," Prigozhin said."
If I am reading it correct:
In a 10-day period of attacking, the document claims that Wagner uses 187,000 shells and rockets. That's over 580,000 shells/rockets a month.
Since Wagner is holding back approx. 30% of the Ukrainian frontline forces, with minority assistance from army and separatist forces, perhaps a full Russian offensive stance all across the front would be in the region of 2 million shells/rockets a month.
So claims from NATO, Ukraine, and other analysts that Russia used 9 million or so artillery shells/rockets in 2022 can be measured against this.
also, Wagner claims that 'Bakhmut' has 50,000-40,000 Ukrainian troops. It is unclear whether this means just Bakhmut or the entire Bakhmut-Soledar-Siversk front. Probably the latter?
If this 50-40K refers to 30-25 Ukrainian brigade/brigade sized equivalents this means that on average the Ukrainian forces are completely decimated, reduced to their artillery component and remnants of their 3 infantry battalions, hence Wagner's increased rate of advance since early Jan 2023.
Just to be clear there were at least five Ukrainian brigades in Soledar alone, three might be considered elite such as the 128th, the 17th Tank Brigade and the 46th.
They were not given official orders to retreat. Any retreat or desertion they did so on their own.
They didn't inform the Polish mercenaries when they retreated leaving the Poles an involuntary rear guard.
At least 200 surrendered and captured. At the end of the mop up, a large shed was used to collect and inventory the bodies complete with grisly video of it. Don't ask me to post this.
A truce was negotiated to allow Ukrainian trucks to retrieve the dead. It is said that at least 20 trucks were used.
The survivors retreated southward but then again we know in the coming days and weeks what happened to the surrounding villages down south as each were overcome by Wagner.
Prigozhyn has claimed that Wagner alone had killed around 110,000 Ukrainians. But as always I take human casualty figures from both sides with doses of salt. Just letting you know what he claimed.
Given Wagner positions from neutral mappers, the last road to Bakhmut are now in ATGM and tank cannon range.
