Russian mercenary chief says his forces are rebelling, some left Ukraine and entered Russia city

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The head of the Wagner private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, made an unprecedented call to arms against the Kremlin on Friday, targeting Russia’s defence minister. The call prompted immediate security responses and increased security measures in both Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, the latter hosting the southern regional military headquarters and managing operations in Ukraine.

The conflict’s outcome remains uncertain, though it’s likely to hamper Moscow’s war efforts as Ukrainian forces begin counteroffensive maneuvers.

Prigozhin reported that his forces entered Russia from Ukraine unopposed by young conscripts and have reached Rostov. “We aren’t fighting children,” he said, “but we will destroy anyone obstructing our path.”

He alleged that the head of the General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, ordered airstrikes on Wagner convoys. These claims and the reports of Wagner convoys reaching Rostov-on-Don are yet to be independently confirmed.

According to Prigozhin, his camps in Ukraine were attacked upon orders from Gerasimov following a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who decided to destroy the Wagner forces. Wagner’s private military has played a pivotal role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, capturing the city of Bakhmut. However, Prigozhin accused Russia’s military of incompetence and withholding supplies from his forces.

Prigozhin, boasting a force of 25,000, stated that his troops aim to bring Shoigu to justice in an armed rebellion. He urged the Russian army not to resist, labelling it a “march of justice.”

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee, under the Federal Security Services (FSB), has charged Prigozhin with inciting an armed rebellion. The FSB appealed to Wagner’s soldiers to arrest Prigozhin and disobey his orders, referring to them as a “betrayal of Russian troops” and a provocation for domestic armed conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about the unfolding situation, with assurances that necessary steps are being taken. Even with heightened military presence, life in Moscow’s central areas continued with restaurants and bars bustling with patrons.

Despite escalating tensions, Prigozhin remains resistant to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry before July 1. He claimed a compromise could be reached but accused the ministry of betrayal.

Senior military officials, including Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alexeyev, criticized Prigozhin’s rebellion as a potential trigger for civil war and a “betrayal of the country and the president.” The Defense Ministry stated that Ukraine’s military is amassing forces for an assault around Bakhmut, taking advantage of the situation.

On a global scale, the National Security Council in Washington expressed vigilance over the situation and promised consultations with international allies and partners.

In other news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged nations to heed warnings of a possible Russian attack on an occupied nuclear power plant, potentially leading to a radiation disaster. The Kremlin denied any threats from Russian forces, while the International Atomic Energy Agency noted escalating military tensions around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Despite the plant’s shutdown, experts warned of possible radiation leaks if the cooling system is compromised.

Throughout the conflict, both Russia and Ukraine have pointed fingers at each other regarding increased risks to the power plant, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russia of endangering the plant’s cooling system.

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More about Russian military rebellion

• Wagner Group
• Yevgeny Prigozhin
• Ukraine Crisis
• Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
• Federal Security Services (FSB)
• Russian Defense Ministry