Ukrainian offensive may coincide with withdrawal of Wagner fighters from Bakhmut – Piontkovsky

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"The situation in Bakhmut is extremely acute. Prygozhin is leaving Bakhmut, he reiterated that his units will leave the city. This change in Bakhmut creates an ideal opportunity for the Ukrainian army, which is hanging over Bakhmut from two flanks. To surround and finish off whatever is left there. And it doesn't matter who it is, Wagner's men, Kadyrov's men, or regular Russian troops. Prigozhin has already begun a triumphal procession through the cities of Siberia and the Far East, repeating the theses: I heroically liberated Bakhmut, and the Russian Defense Ministry lost again," Piontkovsky said.

According to the political analyst, there will be more strife and discord in Russia after the devastating strike by the Ukrainian army, which has already been announced.

"We don't know the date of the Ukrainian army's offensive, but we know who will carry out this strike. I am sure that it will coincide with this pause, the change of shifts in Bakhmut. If Wagner's men leave Bakhmut on June 5, the Russian Defense Ministry will simply not have time to gain a foothold on these lines. This is an ideal point for the destruction of the entire Russian group and zeroing out the entire history of the so-called successes of the Russian army during the winter offensive," Piontkovsky emphasised.

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to launch a counteroffensive, but added that it may take some time and will have a high price.