According to the mercenary chief Prigozchin, fighters from the Wagner Group are said to have taken over all military installations in the Russian city of Rostov. In view of a threatened advance, Moscow is stepping up its security measures.
The smoldering power struggle between the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the military leadership in the Kremlin has escalated since Friday evening. Prigozhin threatens to take his fighters to Moscow. In the city of Rostov in the south of the country, his troops have already taken over all military facilities.
Prigozhin published a video on Telegram to prove his statements. “Military objects in Rostov are under our control, including the airfield,” says the Wagner boss in the recording. His fighters also controlled the headquarters of the Russian army for the south of the country. The fighting in Ukraine is also monitored there. Prigozhin’s claims cannot be independently verified.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin indirectly confirmed the statements made by the Wagner boss in a television speech. “Factually” the work “of civil and military leadership” in Rostov is blocked. Putin sharply attacked Prigozhin and accused him of having betrayed his own country out of “excessive ambition”.
The Reuters news agency and the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said that Wagner fighters should also be on site in the city of Voronezh, which is around 560 kilometers from Rostov. According to Reuters, they are also said to have taken control of military installations there. From Voronezh it is about 500 kilometers to Moscow.
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
Putin condemns “treason”
In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would crack down on anyone involved in the uprising. All “traitors” would be punished, the leaders of the uprising should be “neutralized”.
At the same time, Putin called on the Wagner fighters not to take any further part in the uprising, saying they had been deceived by Prigozhin.
The Ministry of Defense had previously made a similar statement and called on the Wagner fighters to refuse allegiance to Prigozhin. He “deceived her and led her into a criminal adventure”. The mercenaries should contact the authorities, their safety will be guaranteed. “Many of your comrades from several units have already recognized their mistake by asking for help so that they can safely return to their places of action,” the dpa quoted the ministry as saying.
“Will Fight To The End”
The authorities in Rostov have not yet issued any confirmation that the Wagner fighters occupied facilities in the city. But he called on residents to stay in their homes.
Prigozhin himself said his fighters were greeted by border guards as they approached the city. At the checkpoints, the Wagner soldiers encountered young conscripts who offered no resistance. He added that his forces “do not fight children”. “But we will destroy anyone who stands in our way,” he said. “We are advancing and will fight to the end.”
Moscow imposes “anti-terrorist measures”
According to his own statements, the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin, put “anti-terrorist measures” into effect in Moscow. These include increased traffic controls, and restrictions on mass events are also possible.
Russian state media had previously reported that security around important political institutions had been tightened. Video footage of an infantry fighting vehicle and an armored military truck driving in front of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, circulated on the Internet. According to the AP news agency, soldiers with assault rifles were posted in front of the Ministry of Defence. Roads around the presidential administration near Red Square in the center of Moscow have been closed, causing traffic to come to a standstill.
The governor of the region around Moscow, Andrei Vorobyov, also wrote on Telegram about increased security precautions and also called on people to refrain from private car journeys in the direction of southern Russia.
Prigozhin wants to overthrow the military leadership
Wagner boss Prigozhin accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering rocket attacks on the Wagner group, which killed scores of militants. The Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, ordered the launch of the fighter jets.
In response, Prigozhin called for rebellion against the Russian army leadership. If necessary, he and his fighters would advance as far as Moscow to overthrow Shoigu. He called both the defense minister and Gerasimov “scum” that needed to be eliminated. At the same time, Prigozhin emphasized that he had not called for a “military coup” and that he did not want to oppose President Vladimir Putin. After the “March of Justice” against the defense minister and the chief of staff, his troops would return to the front lines.
Prigozhin faces arrest and several years in prison
The Russian prosecutor’s office began investigations into Prigozhin for “armed insurgency”. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the 61-year-old faces between 12 and 20 years in prison.
Prigozhin has called for a fight against Moscow’s military leadership, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, which, in addition to the domestic secret service FSB, also includes practically all other Russian security organs. The FSB then called on the Wagner troops to disobey Prigozhin’s “criminal” and “treacherous” orders and to take steps to arrest him.
With a view to the investigation, Prigozhin only said that his troops were united by a brotherhood. They are not traitors.