Military vehicles and armed soldiers from the Wagner paramilitary group can be seen on the streets of the Russian city. Already on Friday evening, the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, raised the tone against the Russian military leadership.
Fear of civil war
Just hours later, Prigozhin announced that Wagner’s forces had entered Rostov-on-Don – about 100 miles south of Moscow.
A woman in the crowd in the town asks if there will be civil war. One of the Wagner soldiers turns on her.
– No, everything will be fine – don’t worry, he answers her, according to Reuters.
25,000 soldiers
Yevgeny Prigozhin says he wants to hold the Russian military leadership accountable. Among other things, he accuses Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of having ordered an attack on the paramilitary troops.
Prigozhin denies that it is a coup d’état. But states that his forces consist of around 25,000 soldiers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will respond harshly to the group’s actions, describing it as treason. Addressing the nation, the president said Russia’s armed forces and other authorities have received the necessary orders.