Wagner's first man, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has softened his rhetoric toward Russia's Defense Ministry "probably out of fear that it could be completely without its troops fighting in Bakhmut," the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest analysis.

A few days ago, Prigozhin expressed concern about a possible Ukrainian counter-offensive in eastern Ukraine. He says Ukraine has 200.000 reservists preparing for an attack along the eastern front line. He also claims that the Ukrainians currently have 80.000 troops in Bakhmut, Slovyansk and Kostiantynivka to launch a counterattack.

NEW: #Wagner Group financier Yevgeny #Prigozhin has softened his rhetoric towards the #Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) likely out of fear of completely losing its mercenary force in #Bakhmut.

Latest on # Ukraine w/ @criticalthreats : https://t.co/K1DRdsfgIm pic.twitter.com/NAVetrE5Xe

- ISW (@TheStudyofWar) March 24, 2023

The ISV claims that Prigozhin's statements about the imminent danger to Russian forces are an attempt to secure more supplies and reinforcements from the Russian Ministry of Defense to save his forces in Bakhmut.

"Prigoghin has been a fierce critic of the Russian military leadership, and the softening of his rhetoric may indicate that he may be trying in part to appease the Russian Ministry of Defense in order to get supplies or reinforcements for the Wagners at Bakhmut," ISV reported.