Russia's Wagner paramilitary, which has been at the forefront of the monthslong battle to capture Bakhmut, announced it shall withdraw from the region on May 10, APA reports citing DW.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a statement on Friday that the lack of ammunition was the reason for the withdrawal. He blamed Russia's defense ministry.
Wagner's positions in Bakhmut will be transferred to Russia's regular forces, Prigozhin said.
The battle for the strategically important city has become the longest and bloodiest of the war, with severe losses on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides.
Russian forces were adamant for months about capturing the city, which would be their first significant battlefield victory in some eight months.
The battle has drained both sides' artillery reserves, with thousands of shells fired daily.
Wagner had consistently pleaded for more ammunition to secure a victory.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has been vocal about a deepening rift with the Russian Defense Ministry amid rising rivalry between the two bodies on the Ukrainian battlefield.
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