Yevgeni Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary company Wagner, threatens to overthrow the Russian military leadership. The Wagner forces crossed the Ukrainian border and have advanced to Rostov in southern Russia.
The leader of the mercenary company Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin has threatened to take steps to topple Russia’s military leadership, with whom he has long been at loggerheads over the conduct of the war in Ukraine.
Prigozhin claimed on Friday evening that Russia had attacked Wagner’s fighters and camps with missiles. According to Prigozhin, “a huge number” of soldiers died in the attack.
After this, he announced that he would take countermeasures against the Russian military leadership.
– We destroy everything that stands in our way, he said in his voice message.
Prigozhin specifically blames the Russian Defense Minister for the alleged attack Sergei Shoigu.
The Russian leadership has announced that it will launch a criminal investigation into Prigozhin’s incitement to armed rebellion.
According to the Russian Prosecutor General, Prigozhin can face up to 20 years in prison for organizing an armed rebellion.
Wagner forces advanced, Ukraine takes advantage of the situation
Wagner forces crossed the Ukrainian border and claim to have advanced to the Russian military base in Rostov, located in southern Russia. There are tanks and armed Wagner soldiers in the city.
In a video message on Telegram, the Wagner leader claimed that his fighters had taken over military sites in the city, including the airport.
Russia is preparing for Wagner’s rebellion by raising its threat level in the regions. At least one major highway to Moscow is closed. An arrest warrant has been issued for the Wagner manager.
Ukrainian forces are now taking advantage of the unstable situation in Russia. On Saturday, Ukraine launched an offensive in the direction of Bahmut.
reporter: Looks bad for Russia
Ylen Russia correspondent Heikki Heiskanen states that the Russian forces will probably still be able to control the situation.
– However, this looks very bad from Putin’s point of view, that something like this is happening in his ranks, that the boss of a private mercenary company has started to defy the Russian authorities in the middle of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
– I could imagine that Putin and the Kremlin will still be able to get this situation under control, but this looks like a very bad loosening of grip, says Heiskanen.
Heiskanen reminds us that for a long time Putin watched from the sidelines the argument and power struggle between Wagner’s Prigožin and Defense Minister Šoigu, and did not take a very strong stand on it.
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