President Vladimir Putin today described the situation as a «deadly threat,» speaking of the danger of a «civil war» in Russia, the «armed rebellion» led by the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who rebelled against the Russian military leadership.
In a bellicose tone, the Kremlin leader addressed the nation at 10:00 [local time and Greek time] without naming the person in his inner circle who now defies him, referring to «traitors» to the Russian nation whom he warned would be «punished.».
«This is a »stab in the back« to our country and our people,» said Mr. Putin. "What we are facing is nothing less than treason. A betrayal stemming from excessive ambition and personal interests,” he added, referring—indirectly but clearly—to Mr. Prigozhin.
Earlier, the founder of the mercenary company announced that he was at the Russian Army’s general headquarters in Rostov, a key operational hub for operations in Ukraine, and that his forces were in control of various military installations.
«We’re at headquarters; it’s 7:30 a.m.,» said Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video he uploaded to Telegram. «The military facilities in Rostov are under our control, including the airport.».
A few hours after Yevgeny Prigozhin's statements, President Putin acknowledged that the situation in Rostov is currently «difficult.».
Following the mutiny, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office announced that it is conducting an investigation into an «armed rebellion» against Mr. Prigozhin and his 25,000 fighters.
The businessman accused the regular army of «bombing» his forces.
Authorities announced that security measures had been stepped up in Moscow, where a «counterterrorism operation regime» had been imposed, following Prigozhin’s threat via Telegram that «we will continue, we will see this through to the end» and that «we will destroy anyone who stands in our way.».
On the Ukrainian side, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that «everything is just beginning in Russia.» «The division among the elites is very obvious. Pretending that they agree and that everything is under control will not work,» Mykhailo Podolyak added on Twitter.
«We are all ready to die—all 25,000 of us. And then there will be another 25,000. Because we will die for our homeland, we will die for the Russian people, who must be liberated from those who are bombing civilians,» said Mr. Prigozhin.
In his address, the Russian president emphasized that his country’s armed forces are fighting for the lives and safety of the Russian people; he insisted that he would not «will not allow» a «civil war» to break out in Russia, and stressed the need for «unity» among the forces and for differences to be set aside. He assured that he would defend the country’s Constitution.
Prigozhin's commander says that he and his men will not surrender
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, said today that he and his men will not surrender, despite orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman calls on Russians to rally around Putin
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova today called on Russians to rally around Vladimir Putin, following what the Russian president described as an “armed rebellion” by the Wagner mercenary group.
The Atlantic Alliance is “monitoring the situation” in Russia
NATO is “monitoring the situation” in Russia, a spokesperson for the Atlantic Alliance said today in an email.
Spokesperson Oana Lungescu did not comment further.
Yevgeny Prigozhin says he is at the army headquarters in Rostov and that his mercenaries are in control of military facilities in the city
The head of the Russian mercenary company Wagner confirmed today that he is at the Russian army headquarters in the city of Rostov —a key command center in the Russian offensive against Ukraine—adding that military facilities, particularly an airport, are under the control of his men.
«We are at headquarters; it is 7:30 a.m.» [Editor’s note: local time and Greek time], said Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video uploaded to the Telegram platform. «Military facilities in Rostov are under our control, including the airport,» he added, as uniformed personnel could be seen marching behind him.
In another video, uploaded to a Telegram account linked to Wagner, Mr. Prigozhin is shown alongside Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Evkurov and Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev, to whom he lectures on how they treat soldiers.
In the latest video—the exact date and location of which cannot be verified—Mr. Prigozhin states that his forces have surrounded the city of Rostov, that they are ready to march on Moscow, and demands that Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu come to see him.
In the first video, the head of Wagner says that military aircraft participating in operations in Ukraine «are departing as usual» from Rostov Airport to carry out their «combat missions» and that «there is no problem.».
«The main command center is operating normally,» Mr. Prigozhin continues, assuring that «no officer» has been relieved of her duties.
«A large number of areas» that had been captured in Ukraine «were lost» and «many soldiers were killed,» he insists, repeating once again his accusation that the military leadership is not telling the truth about the situation on the front lines.
«The army is losing »as many as 1,000 soldiers a day,'" said Mr. Prigozhin, clarifying that he was referring to the dead, the wounded, the missing, and those who refuse to fight.
The mercenary group controls facilities in Voronezh, 500 kilometers south of Moscow, a Russian security source told Reuters
A Russian security source told Reuters today that fighters from the Wagner mercenary group have taken control of all military facilities in the city of Voronezh, which is located about 500 kilometers south of Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Defense is calling on the fighters of the mercenary group to abandon their leader, Prigozhin
The Russian Ministry of Defense states in a statement released today addressed to the fighters of the Wagner mercenary group that “they have been deceived and dragged into a criminal venture” by their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In its announcement posted on Telegram, the Russian Ministry of Defense also urges Wagner fighters to contact its representatives and those of law enforcement agencies, and promises to guarantee their safety.
Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee has imposed anti-terrorism measures in Moscow and the surrounding region, RIA reported
Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee announced today that it is imposing anti-terrorism measures in Moscow and the surrounding region amid a mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group, according to the Russian state news agency RIA.
“It’s all starting now in Russia,” said an adviser to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy regarding the mercenary group’s operation
A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today described the actions of Yevgeny Prig, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner,ozin, as a “counterterrorism operation” and noted that “now everything is starting in Russia.”.
“The rift among the elites is very obvious. Agreeing and pretending that everything is under control won’t work,” Mikhailo Pontoliak notes in a Twitter post.
“Someone has to lose, no matter what: either Prigozhin (…) or the ‘anti-Prigozhin' group,” he adds.
“Now it’s all starting in Russia,” he concludes.
According to London, the Russian government is now facing its greatest challenge in recent times
The British Ministry of Defense announced today that the Russian state is facing its greatest security challenge in recent times, as, it added, forces from the Russian mercenary group Wagner appear to be moving toward Moscow.
“In the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces—and particularly the Russian National Guard—will play a central role in how this crisis unfolds. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times,” notes the British military intelligence service in its regular briefing.
Berlin is closely monitoring events in Russia
The government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is closely monitoring the situation in Russia, a spokesperson said today.
“We are closely monitoring events in Russia,” he noted.
