The owner of Wagner, a private military contractor, issued a bold challenge to the Kremlin by calling for an armed rebellion to remove Russia’s defense minister. This move was taken so seriously by the Kremlin that security measures were heightened in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, where the Russian military headquarters for the southern region is located and where the fighting in Ukraine is overseen. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner, stated that his forces had successfully reached Rostov without facing any resistance from young conscripts at checkpoints, emphasizing that his forces were not fighting against children. He warned, “But we will destroy anyone who stands in our way. We are moving forward and will go until the end.” Prigozhin claimed to have 25,000 fighters ready to put an end to the current situation. This information comes from the Telegraph.
According to Prigozhin, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff, ordered warplanes to strike Wagner’s convoys, which were traveling alongside civilian vehicles. Prigozhin also claimed that Wagner field camps in Ukraine were targeted with rockets, helicopter gunships, and artillery fire on the orders of Gerasimov, following a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin stated that his troops would retaliate against Shoigu in an armed rebellion and urged the army not to resist. He emphasized that this rebellion is not a military coup, but a march of justice. The governor of Rostov region has advised citizens to stay indoors and contribute to maintaining order, as reported by the BBC.
The National Anti-Terrorism Committee, which is part of the Federal Security Services (FSB), announced that Prigozhin would be investigated for inciting an armed rebellion. The FSB urged contract soldiers from Wagner to arrest Prigozhin and refuse to follow his “criminal and treacherous orders.” They condemned his statements as a betrayal to Russian troops and accused him of instigating an armed conflict within Russia. The chief prosecutor of Russia declared the criminal investigation to be justified, stating that an armed rebellion charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation and that necessary measures are being taken.
(Read more Wagner Group stories.)
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