The leader of the mercenary Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has initiated a coup against Russia’s military leaders, claiming to have 25,000 fighters prepared to take action.
Russia’s soldiers were put on high alert when Prigozhin called for citizens to remain at home and threatened to advance on the Kremlin.
Prigozhin made the declaration following his accusation that Russian generals had carried out an airstrike on his fighters in Ukraine, resulting in a considerable number of casualties with no supporting evidence.
In an audio message, Prigozhin stated that his troops are moving into Rostov, claiming that they crossed the state border and were welcomed by the border guards.
“We crossed the state border in all places,” Prigozhin said. “The border guards came out to meet and hugged our fighters.
“We are entering Rostov. We don’t fight children. Shoigu (Defence Minister) kills children. He put 18-year-old boys against us. These guys will live and go back to their mothers. But we will destroy everything that gets in the way.”
He also alleged that his troops had downed a Russian military helicopter after it attacked civilians in Rostov, although no evidence was provided.
The FSB, Russia’s main intelligence service, has opened a criminal case against Prigozhin, previously one of Vladimir Putin’s close allies, and labeled him a “foreign agent”.
The FSB accuses Prigozhin of leading an “armed rebellion inside Russia”, punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison.
In his Telegram audio message calling for the overthrow of Russian military leaders, Prighozin stated: “The commanders’ council of the Wagner Private Military Company has reached a decision.
“The evil that the country’s military leadership perpetuates must be stopped.
“I ask you not to resist. Anyone who does will be considered a threat and destroyed. That goes for any checkpoints and aviation on our way.”
“Presidential power, the government, the police and Russian guard will work as usual.
“This is not a military coup, but a march of justice. Our actions do not interfere with the troops in any way.”
“There are 25,000 of us and we are going to figure out what this chaos is happening in the country,” he said in a later update. “Anyone who wants to join can. We need to end this mess.”
Earlier on Friday, Prigozhin claimed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was based on lies and criticized the conduct of Russia’s defence ministry, challenging Moscow’s propaganda.
Reports on social media alleged that Putin has been sent to his bunker in the Kremlin, and videos showed tanks from the Wagner group moving within Russia while Russian troops observed. Another video depicted FSB agents in a shootout with Wagner fighters.
The US and Ukraine have expressed keen interest in the unfolding situation.
In the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, stated that Putin was aware of “the situation around Prigozhin”.
Later reports indicated that Putin’s motorcade was seen speeding through Moscow to the Kremlin from his residence in the suburbs.
General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy head of the armed forces in Ukraine, urged Mr Prigozhin to ‘stop the convoys and return them to their bases.”
“Together we have been on a difficult path,” Gen Surovikin said. “We fought together, took risks, suffered losses and won together. We are the same blood. We are warriors. I urge you to stop.
“The enemy is just waiting for the internal political situation in our country to deteriorate. You can’t play into the hands of the enemy in these difficult times for our country.”
News reports also said that an emergency plan called “krepost”, or fortress, had deployed Russian soldiers around the capital and to strategic locations.
Prigozhin is a fierce critic of Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Defence Minister, and Valery Gerasimov, the head of the military.
He stated that he wanted to avenge the ordinary Russian soldiers who have been killed by incompetent leadership since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday evening, he accused Mr Shoigu of ordering the Russian military to shell a Wagner camp and published a video of what he said was the remains of the destroyed camp.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defence denied this.
“All the messages and video frames distributed on social networks on behalf of Prigozhin about the alleged strike by the Russian Ministry of Defence on the rear camps of Wagner do not correspond to reality,” it said.
Watch videos below
Wagner tanks drive around the roadblocks and enter Rostov-on-Don as the soldiers Kremlin sent to fight Wagner (without tanks) can’t do anything but just watch. pic.twitter.com/nhWGdyut83
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 24, 2023
Russian media:
“The source says there is panic in the Kremlin, no one can reach Putin”
“Source: Right now the Kremlin is negotiating about something with general governor Dyumin”
Source: Some people in the Kremlin, from the presidential administration, are finding out about a… pic.twitter.com/La2kOZcgK4
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 23, 2023
🚨 Combat footage between Wagner PMC and Kremlin forces in Rostov region. pic.twitter.com/4SlynGXwaR
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 24, 2023
A resident of Moscow reported that the entrance to the Kremlin and Red Square was blocked. Raised automatic retractable bollards blocking traffic.#Russia #moscow pic.twitter.com/v3oQzKTF4P
— OxT (@OxTcrypto) June 23, 2023
Kremlin continues to physically block entrance roads into Rostov-on-Don with military trucks in an attempt to repel the coup by Wagner PMC. pic.twitter.com/ERdXT7T79x
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 24, 2023
⚡️⚡️Breaking: PMC #Wagner’s tanks are atm in Rostov, the next stop is the #Moscow, Kremlin#RussiaCivilWar #RT pic.twitter.com/uXwjy5VhYd
— ALX 🇺🇦 (@alexYO1radio) June 24, 2023
Reports are suggesting that the Wagner Group is currently involved in a significant event involving the Russian Defense Ministry in Rostov, Russia.
This situation has implications for the capital, Moscow, and raises concerns for the leadership of Vladimir Putin. However, it’s… pic.twitter.com/vYCIwGTClt
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) June 24, 2023
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