Prigozhin well knows that Bakhmut’s military value is limited; Ukraine has further defense lines nearby and parts of the Ukrainian military leadership had already pushed for a withdrawal. Perhaps Prigozhin was counting on the fact that such a deal would be tempting for Kiev, but at the same time Ukraine would have little interest in making details public afterwards. President Selenskyj had publicly rejected a withdrawal several times, saying that Bakhmut’s voluntary resignation, also in coordination with Wagner, would damage him politically.