Politics
Fighting Erupts Between Russian MoD, Wagner Contractors As Coup Attempt Unfolds
Clashes have erupted between forces loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group private military contractors after Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin called for an armed rebellion against the Russian government on Friday.
Late Friday evening, Prigozhin claimed that Kremlin forces had launched attacks on Wagner positions, killing several soldiers. Convoys of Wagner troops were soon spotted in the Russian city of Rostov, a key logistical hub for the war in Ukraine.
Wagner troops and tanks then surrounded the Southern Russian Military District Headquarters while civilians watched. A few hours later, Prigozhin turned up at the headquarters and vowed to March on Moscow unless Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russian Armed Forces chief Valery Gerasimov stepped down and met with them.
🚨COUP UPDATES: Wagner with the National Guard & Russian Military TAKE OVER Russian Military HQ In Rostov
Tensions rise in Russia as the Southern Russian Military District Headquarters in Rostov is surrounded by armed military personnel.
The surrounding military personnel,… pic.twitter.com/69WUy9jvCx
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 24, 2023
BREAKING: Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin seen passing through Russian checkpoints and meeting with senior Russian military members.
In a video posted to Telegram Prigozhin announced: “We are inside the (army) headquarters, it is 7:30 am (04:30 GMT).”
“Military sites in Rostov,… pic.twitter.com/8z4miM2Q0k
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 24, 2023
In his first address since launching the coup attempt, Prigozhin claimed that Russian casualties from the war in Ukraine far exceed reported figures. “Military objectives in Rostov are under control, including the airfield, planes that leave for battle work [in Ukraine] are leaving nominally,” the Wagner leader said.
Prigozhin claimed that operations were running as normal at the headquarters and said his forces were not interfering with the fighting in Ukraine. “When we arrived here, we again confirmed a lot of new things. Number of soldiers killed is three to four times higher than what is being reported at the top. Huge parts of the territories have been lost,” he stated.
The mercenary leader placed blame for these casualties on the Russian Ministry of Defense and stated that Gerasimov “ran away” when he heard Wagner forces were coming.
🚨 Prigozhin issued his first public address from the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, a city with a population of 1.1 million, which Wagner PMC now fully control.
English subtitles. pic.twitter.com/SDg4astcaY— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 24, 2023
Hours later, Putin addressed the nation and vowed to crush the rebellion. “This battle, when the fate of our nation is being decided, requires consolidation of all forces. It requires unity, consolidation and a sense of responsibility, and everything that weakens us, any strife that our external enemies can use and do so to subvert us from within, must be discarded,” Putin said.
The Russian leader compared the situation to the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and insinuated that Prigozhin was receiving support from Western governments. “What we’ve encountered now is betrayal, pure and simple. Excessive ambitions and personal interests have led to betrayal. The betrayal of our people, our country, and the cause,” Putin went on to say.
He then branded Wagner leaders as “traitors” and warned that retaliation would be “severe.”
Here's President Putin's full speech, translated, denouncing Wagner / Prigozhin's actions as treasonous and ordering the end to the military rebellion. pic.twitter.com/EgFtNIn6pR
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 24, 2023
As the coup attempt unfolds, clashes have erupted between forces loyal to the Russian government and Wagner contractors. At least two Russian electronic warfare helicopters were shot down by Wagner forces early Saturday morning, according to Russian defense officials.
Columns of Wagner forces armed with air defense weapons continue to advance towards Moscow and have been spotted in the city of Voronezh, which is located about halfway between Moscow and Rostov. Wagner Telegram channels have claimed that all military installations in the city have been captured while further claiming that hundreds of Russian forces have surrendered, though these reports are unconfirmed.
The Russian military has been seen setting up roadblocks outside Moscow while airstrikes have been reported on the key M4 highway leading to the capital city.
This is a developing story.
⚡️#BREAKING Photo confirms that Wagner indeed downed a Russian helicopter pic.twitter.com/WV906GgWnw
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) June 24, 2023
BREAKING: Massive fire erupts at oil depot in Russia's Voronezh pic.twitter.com/9wULuADgpZ
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 24, 2023
Heavy Wagner convoy with active air defense in Voronezh Oblast, moving with at least one Pantsir-S1 SAM system, Strela-10 SAM system, and multiple BMPs and tanks (T-72B3, T-80BV) loaded on equipment haulers. pic.twitter.com/pWiJKf4vcq
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 24, 2023