Fears of a coup are growing in Russia this morning after Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin declared war on Moscow’s military leadership and claimed to have marched on the city of Rostov ‘unopposed’.
The private army boss claimed to have also shot down a Russian military helicopter in the city – home to the Kremlin’s headquarters for the war in Ukraine – which ‘opened fire on a civilian column’.
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BREAKING:
The Wagner Group has launched a military coup and are now fighting against the Russian Army.
Around 30 000 Wagner soldiers have now taken control of a large area north of the Russian city of Rostov.
A Russian helicopter has been shot down. pic.twitter.com/wEf7Vw63pJ
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 24, 2023
BREAKING: Increased military vehicle presence in parts of Moscow amid tensions with Wagner Grouppic.twitter.com/yd1zsegrQA
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 23, 2023
Wagner chief says his 25,000-strong force “ready to die”.
The Wagner PMC Group has announced that they have Captured the Southern Military District Headquarters within the the City of #Rostov-on-Don in the Rostov Region of Southwestern #Russia.#Moscow #RussianCivilWar #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Q6IR6mni5a
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) June 24, 2023
FSB calls for Yevgeny Prigozhin to be arrested
Russia opened a criminal probe into the maverick leader of the Wagner mercenary group after he alleged the Russian army killed an “enormous number” of his fighters in rocket strikes on their rear bases in Ukraine.
In an unprecedented escalation of his feud with the country’s top brass, Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened to “march” on Moscow with 25,000 fighters and punish those responsible, prompting speculation of a coup attempt.
He warned Russians against resisting his mercenaries and called on others to join him.
