Russian Civil War 2023
‘The start of Russian civil war’: Wagner mercenaries CAPTURE officer in Putin’s regular army and accuse him of ordering his men to fire on their troops as split between groups creates chaos
- The Russian soldier admitted shooting at Wagner group vehicles while drunk
- It is latest report of infighting between Wagner mercenaries and Russian army
By DAVID AVERRE and WILL STEWART
PUBLISHED: 08:45, 5 June 2023 | UPDATED: 11:08, 5 June 2023
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Mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group have taken captive a lieutenant colonel from Vladimir Putin‘s regular forces in the latest example of bitter infighting in Russian ranks.
The captured colonel was seen hanging his head in a humiliating video posted by the Wagner group in which he confessed his ‘guilt’ and admitted to being drunk on duty after allegedly shooting at a Wagner vehicle.
This follows claims by the mercenaries that the regular Russian army targeted their ranks with mines, as a clip showed their sappers clearing the explosive devices from a road.
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Wagner mercenaries have been fighting for Putin in Ukraine and are credited with seizing the embattled city of Bakhmut from Ukrainian armed forces after months of bloody warfare.
But its success has seemingly angered regular Russian army commanders.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin’s military leaders. He has accused them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters unprotected on the frontlines.
Wagner soldiers detain ‘drunk’ Putin colonel amid signs of civil war
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Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin (right) speaks with servicemen during the withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut and the handover to regular Russian forces
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Wagner private army mercenaries film themselves de-mining a road which they claim was mined by regular Russian troops as the mercenaries made their way back from the front
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The Wagner group is fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Vladimir Putin, but the relationship between them and Putin’s regular troops is one of mutual hatred
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The captured soldier identified himself as Roman Venevitin, commander of Russia’s 72nd Brigade.
READ MORE: Russia claims to have thwarted ‘major’ attack in Donetsk
Venevitin, who appeared to have a broken or wounded nose, confessed that he ‘opened fire on a Wagner PMC [private military company] vehicle while intoxicated from alcohol’.
He did so due to ‘personal animosity’, he claimed.
The shooting damaged a Ural supply truck but did not wound any Wagner soldiers, according to the private army.
Venevitin also confessed to leading a group of ten to 12 Russian army soldiers who ‘disarmed’ a Wagner rapid response group.
‘Does personal animosity have any place at all in war?’ an angry Wagner commander asked Venevitin.
‘No,’ the captured colonel replied sheepishly.
Wagner has a reputation for battering its own ‘traitors’ to death with a sledgehammer – but there is no suggestion the Russian colonel will face the same treatment.
A summary execution of a high-ranking Russian commander by Wagner forces would cause unprecedented chaos in Moscow’s ranks.
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Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin’s military leaders. He has accused them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters unprotected on the frontlines
Wagner accuses Russian military of fleeing Bakhmut positions
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A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut
The capture of Venevitin came hours after Wagner mercenaries were forced to clear a road of mines which they claim had been laid by the regular army corps.
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