A fresh row has broken out between the Wagner Group and the Russian military, as long-simmering tension between the groups threatens to spill over.

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin dismissed Russia's claims to have inflicted heavy losses on Ukraine in the Donbas when Kyiv attempted offensive action.

Prigozhin said the claims were "simply wild and absurd science fiction".

But Russia's defence ministry doubled down on the claims on Tuesday, saying Ukraine suffered over 3,700 casualties.

Russia said the attack was part of a Ukrainian "long-promised offensive" in the Donetsk region, which took place over Sunday and Monday.

Ukraine's military said on Monday that it had no information about a major attack in the region, and that it wouldn't comment on claims it called "fake".

Speaking to state media, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu insisted that his forces had inflicted over 3,715 casualties on Ukraine during the attack and destroyed dozens of pieces of military equipment.

"The attempts at an offensive have failed. The enemy has been halted. Russian soldiers and officers displayed courage and heroism in the battles," Mr Shoigu said, adding that 71 Russian troops died in the fighting.

However, Prigozhin was quick to hit out at the defence ministry's claims on Monday evening, saying the claims of a huge success would amount to a "massacre".

"Therefore, I think that these are just some wild fantasies," he wrote on Telegram. He also accused Russian forces of "slowly" withdrawing from the village of Berkhivka on the outskirts of Bakhmut, calling it a "disgrace".

Moscow rejected Prigozhin's claims in a statement on Tuesday. It said his allegations did "not correspond to reality" and insisted that the suburb remained under Moscow's control.

Officials in Kyiv have admitted to shifting to "offensive actions" in some parts on the country and on Tuesday a US official told the BBC's American partner CBS News that it is accurate to say that the Ukraine counter offensive is in its opening phases, but that the main thrust has not yet begun.

On Monday, Kyiv's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said some offensive operations had commenced around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which she called an "epicentre of hostilities".

In a video address late on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ukrainian fighters for delivering "the news we are expecting" in the Bakhmut region.

Bakhmut has for months been at the heart of fierce fighting. It has little strategic value - but is important symbolically both for Kyiv and Moscow.

Prigozhin's fighters were heavily involved in the battle for Bakhmut, and he regularly criticised Russian officials for what he said was a lack of front-line support. But at the end of May he said his forces were withdrawing from the city in order to transfer control to the Russian army.

He is believed to hold his own political ambitions, and his forces' objectives have not always aligned with the military's, resulting in tension between the factions.

On Monday, the paramilitary group said it had detained a regular Russian army officer, who allegedly opened fire on a Wagner vehicle in Ukraine.

In a video released by the group, the officer said that the incident happened while he was drunk, and that he had opened fire due to his dislike for Wagner.

Fighting no dey tire Russia and Ukraine?

Just like boko haram and the Nigeria soldiers

helinues:
Fighting no dey tire Russia and Ukraine?

Russia propaganda will always have APC coloring!

When I read news like this,it makes me sick..

Ukrainians are dying massively.. Daily.

If the previous weapons the West have been sending are efficient and sufficient enough,there would be no need to keep sending more and more and more weapons..

Something isn't right oo

OloYeOfEgbE:
When I read news like this,it makes me sick..

Ukrainians are dying massively.. Daily.

Yes, but Russia are dying more massively! 😭

Hmm.

One year and five months after Putin still finds it impossible to “overrun” neighboring Ukraine. If Ukraine was far away from Russia, it would have been a complete disgrace to the Russians.

What’s the purpose of sustaining that invasion, seen the effects internationally?

Wagwanbrethren:

Yes, but Russia are dying more massively! 😭

If Russians are dying,why are you sending more weapons and more billions..? Is it for the dead corpse?

Why hasn't the seized territories been declared Ukraine?

Hahahahahahahaha.. See confusion. So Wagner that is doing the actual fighting are denying the reports of the Russians they are fighting the way for lol

OloYeOfEgbE:


If Russians are dying,why are you sending more weapons and more billions..? Is it for the dead corpse?

Why hasn't the seized territories been declared Ukraine?

If they are not dying why was there need for mass mobilization in Russia leading to citizens fleeing in all directions into neighbouring countries. Why drafting prisoners to war? They are both dying massively, war is not video games.

Russian military is lying to hide their weakness in Ukraine. Why did Russia think that now is the best time to blow up that dam if they're not running at a loss and I'm order to retaliate decided to carry out the blasting of that dam as a payback.

All of una dey craze...plus russia and ukraine and wagner together.

OloYeOfEgbE:


If Russians are dying,why are you sending more weapons and more billions..? Is it for the dead corpse?

Why hasn't the seized territories been declared Ukraine?

If Ukrainians re dying, why does Russia keep sending more tanks? 🤣
Listen to your logic! 🤷‍♂️

Wagwanbrethren:

If Ukrainians re dying, why does Russia keep sending more tanks? 🤣
Listen to your logic! 🤷‍♂️

More tanks?

This one dey on colos

Amaly:
If they are not dying why was there need for mass mobilization in Russia leading to citizens fleeing in all directions into neighbouring countries. Why drafting prisoners to war? They are both dying massively, war is not video games.

Keep playing... na you

OloYeOfEgbE:


More tanks?

This one dey on colos

Ooh, you mean Russia don run out of tanks? 🤣

Wagwanbrethren:

Ooh, you mean Russia don run out of tanks? 🤣

Show me a picture of Moscow on fire...Let me show you 1000 pictures of Kyiv on fire

OloYeOfEgbE:


Show me a picture of Moscow on fire...Let me show you 1000 pictures of Kyiv on fire

We're is the war been fought??
Moscow abi,
Did Ukraine tell you they want to take over Moscow..
Be wise na

obedience4:



We're is the war been fought??
Moscow abi,
Did Ukraine tell you they want to take over Moscow..
Be wise na

Oh no more take over kremlin and kill putin.. Nice.

Go and watch real documentary on the war abeg

OloYeOfEgbE:


Show me a picture of Moscow on fire...Let me show you 1000 pictures of Kyiv on fire

Sweetheart, Russia are the Invaders not Ukraine! 🤣

OloYeOfEgbE:


Oh no more take over kremlin and kill putin.. Nice.

Go and watch real documentary on the war abeg

Please show me any piece of information were the Ukrainian said they wanted to take over Moscow and kill Putin.

Instead it was Putin who tried to take over keiv and remove zelenzky from power and failed woefully.


Please am done with you
You clearly ain't smart

POOtin is just dragging the war while praying for the America election to come fast
He knows if Trump's wins the disgrace Zenlensky plans for him won't come to pass but if 4kin JO wins it is bye bye for him

Wagner bros is a tip of the iceberg of how Russia gonna divides once POOtin is gone, he is the only rallying force in the country
Russia will go the way of other Slavic nations that were mixed up with other nationalities, POOtin is the only strong man remaining just like TITO of Yugoslavia

una no dey tire ?

see as Russia VS Ukraine matter concern una pass those involved

DaveHarry:
A fresh row has broken out between the Wagner Group and the Russian military, as long-simmering tension between the groups threatens to spill over.

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin dismissed Russia's claims to have inflicted heavy losses on Ukraine in the Donbas when Kyiv attempted offensive action.

Prigozhin said the claims were "simply wild and absurd science fiction".

But Russia's defence ministry doubled down on the claims on Tuesday, saying Ukraine suffered over 3,700 casualties.

Russia said the attack was part of a Ukrainian "long-promised offensive" in the Donetsk region, which took place over Sunday and Monday.

Ukraine's military said on Monday that it had no information about a major attack in the region, and that it wouldn't comment on claims it called "fake".

Speaking to state media, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu insisted that his forces had inflicted over 3,715 casualties on Ukraine during the attack and destroyed dozens of pieces of military equipment.

"The attempts at an offensive have failed. The enemy has been halted. Russian soldiers and officers displayed courage and heroism in the battles," Mr Shoigu said, adding that 71 Russian troops died in the fighting.

However, Prigozhin was quick to hit out at the defence ministry's claims on Monday evening, saying the claims of a huge success would amount to a "massacre".

"Therefore, I think that these are just some wild fantasies," he wrote on Telegram. He also accused Russian forces of "slowly" withdrawing from the village of Berkhivka on the outskirts of Bakhmut, calling it a "disgrace".

Moscow rejected Prigozhin's claims in a statement on Tuesday. It said his allegations did "not correspond to reality" and insisted that the suburb remained under Moscow's control.

Officials in Kyiv have admitted to shifting to "offensive actions" in some parts on the country and on Tuesday a US official told the BBC's American partner CBS News that it is accurate to say that the Ukraine counter offensive is in its opening phases, but that the main thrust has not yet begun.

On Monday, Kyiv's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said some offensive operations had commenced around the eastern city of Bakhmut, which she called an "epicentre of hostilities".

In a video address late on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ukrainian fighters for delivering "the news we are expecting" in the Bakhmut region.

Bakhmut has for months been at the heart of fierce fighting. It has little strategic value - but is important symbolically both for Kyiv and Moscow.

Prigozhin's fighters were heavily involved in the battle for Bakhmut, and he regularly criticised Russian officials for what he said was a lack of front-line support. But at the end of May he said his forces were withdrawing from the city in order to transfer control to the Russian army.

He is believed to hold his own political ambitions, and his forces' objectives have not always aligned with the military's, resulting in tension between the factions.

On Monday, the paramilitary group said it had detained a regular Russian army officer, who allegedly opened fire on a Wagner vehicle in Ukraine.

In a video released by the group, the officer said that the incident happened while he was drunk, and that he had opened fire due to his dislike for Wagner.

USA should write a better propaganda. This one is weak.