Wagner forces have entered the border region of Rostov and taken over several military installations during the morning. Russian defense forces are to be on the ground and respond with “necessary combat measures” according to the Russian governor in the area
The paramilitary group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is behind the uprising, which is described as revenge for Russian attacks on the group.
President Vladimir Putin calls the action treason in a televised speech. The Wagner group has responded by saying that the country will soon have a new president.
Images on social media showed during the morning heavily armed military surrounding the headquarters of the Russian military in Rostov-na-Donu, a city with just over 1 million inhabitants.
There is also footage said to show Prigozhin in conversation with a couple of top Russian generals in what is said to be the Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.
We are inside the headquarters, it is 7:30 a.m., he says in a video on Telegram.
The Wagner leader claims that the forces crossed the border and into the headquarters of the Russian military in Rostov-na-Donu. There are also reports that Wagner forces have taken control of all military buildings in the city of Voronezh, located 50 miles south of Moscow. Photo: SVT
Prigozhin then said that his forces will blockade Rostov-on-Don and move towards Moscow.
Later on Saturday, there were also reports that Wagner’s forces had moved north and captured parts of the city of Voronezh, which is 50 miles south of Moscow.
Reuters also reports that Russian military helicopters have opened fire on a convoy of Wagner vehicles on the M4 highway outside Voronezh.
Promised revenge
Prigozhin on Friday accused the Russian Defense Ministry of deliberately bombing Wagner soldiers stationed in Ukraine.They have carried out robotic attacks against our rear lines, said a furious Yevgeny Prigozhin in one of several audio recordings published in the evening.According to Prigozhin – who accuses Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of being behind the attacks – a “huge” number of Wagner’s soldiers have been killed.
He further vowed to avenge the attacks, saying that Wagner, “with 25,000 soldiers”, will “march for justice”. He calls on all Russians to support the fight against the country’s military leadership, but adds that it is “not a military coup”.
“Armed Rebellion”
President Vladimir Putin has called the act treason and says the Kremlin’s response will be harsh, and Russian security services have opened a criminal investigation into Prigozhin for inciting armed rebellion, according to state news agency Tass.
Security has been strengthened around Moscow and the special units of the Russian National Guard have been put on full alert in the Russian capital, writes Tass.
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