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Fighting Erupts Between Russian MoD, Wagner Contractors As Coup Attempt Unfolds

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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.

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.

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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.

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.”

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.



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