Statement on Soledar's capture underlines split between Russian MoD and Wagner PMC - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared its analysis in its regular report on Russia’s offensive campaign in Ukraine.

ISW experts stressed that "the Russian MoD attempted to justify their snub of Wagner by claiming that a Russian “heterogeneous grouping of troops” executed a “joint plan” in the Soledar direction and attributed the assault against residential areas to Wagner forces."

The statement of Russia’s Ministry of Defense caused a significant resonance in the Russian information space, and also emphasized the split between the Ministry of Defense and the Wagner PMC.

At the same time, according to ISW, the financier and founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, vaguely responded to the Russian Defense Ministry's silence on Wagner, saying that he could not comment on the situation and noted that journalists' questions on the matter revealed their concern about commemorating Wagner's "heroic capture of Soledar."

Presumably, Prigozhin tried to prevent the Defense Ministry's announcement on January 12, accusing unnamed officials and government officials of "constantly trying to steal victory from [the] Wagner private military company" and diminishing its merits. Analysts also suggest that the PMC founder seeks to use the capture of Soledar as a tool to increase his authority in Russia.

• Earlier, Russia announced the alleged capture of Soledar, but the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied this statement and said that the fighting for the town continues.