Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, has urged for a rebellion against Russia’s military hierarchy, announcing that he has 25,000 fighters ready to “resolve the chaos”.
Russian troops nationwide were put on high alert Friday evening when Prigozhin advised citizens to remain indoors and warned of an impending march on the Kremlin.
Prigozhin accused Russian generals of executing an airstrike on his troops in Ukraine, claiming a “large number” were killed, although he failed to provide any supporting evidence.
Late on Friday, Prigozhin claimed that his forces were advancing into Rostov, a major southern Russian city used as a base by the Russian military leaders.
“We have crossed the state border everywhere,” Prigozhin announced. “Our troops were warmly greeted by the border guards.
“We are advancing into Rostov. We do not wage war against children. [Russian Defence Minister Sergei] Shoigu does. He has sent 18-year-olds to fight us. These young men will survive and return to their mothers. However, anything standing in our way will be eradicated.”
He further alleged that his forces had downed a Russian military helicopter that had attacked civilians in Rostov, yet he did not provide evidence for this assertion.
By Saturday morning, Prigozhin declared that he had seized control of Rostov, including all military facilities and the airport, and claimed that several Russian soldiers had joined his uprising.
Labelled a ‘foreign agent’ by Moscow The FSB, Russia’s principal intelligence agency, announced it had initiated a criminal case against Prigozhin, previously one of Vladimir Putin’s most trusted operatives, branding him a “foreign agent”.
The case accuses Prigozhin of instigating an “armed uprising within Russia”. The FSB noted that such an act is “punishable with a prison term ranging from 12 to 20 years.”
It also appealed to the members of the Wagner group to disregard Prighozin’s directives and to detain him if possible.
In a Telegram audio message advocating for the toppling of Russian military leaders, Prigozhin proclaimed: “The leadership council of Wagner Private Military Company has come to a resolution.
“The atrocities committed by the country’s military heads must be halted.
“I implore you to abstain from resistance. Those who do will be viewed as a threat and will be eliminated. This applies to any roadblocks and air forces in our path.
“The presidential authority, the government, the police, and the Russian guard will continue their operations as usual.
“This isn’t a military coup, but a march for justice. Our actions in no way disrupt the activities of the troops.”
In a subsequent update, he stated: “We are a force of 25,000, and we are going to get to the bottom of this chaos that’s engulfing the country. Anybody who wishes to support us is welcome. We need to bring an end to this disorder.”
At the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, stated that the Russian president was cognizant of “the situation surrounding Prigozhin”.
Subsequent reports indicated that Putin’s motorcade was seen hastily moving through Moscow to the Kremlin from his residential suburb in the capital.
