President Vladimir Putin marked Russia's most important secular holiday, Victory Day, by promising a victory in Ukraine. However, those on the battlefield say Russian soldiers are "abandoning the front line."
The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has threatened to pull out his fighters if they do not get the ammunition they need. Prigozhin said on Tuesday they have only received a tenth of what they asked for and have been "brazenly deceived."
He added that Russian troops in the east have "fled from their flanks" and that Ukrainian forces are "tearing" at Russian positions in the "meat grinder" of Bakhmut. He believes those soldiers will destroy his group and launch a counteroffensive in the near future.
Ukrainians admit they have inflicted "serious damage." However, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for military forces in the east, said the fight is not over. He added that the situation remains "difficult" and that Bakhmut is still the main thrust of the Russians' attack.
Ukrainian leaders have heard their allies guess at the timing of a counteroffensive. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that push has been "overestimated" and, after seeing his troops exceed expectations for well over a year, he is trying to lower them.