Pics: Wagner mutiny unfolds against Putin, Moscow military leadership in Russia

Amid Russia-Ukraine war, Wagner group chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin made a bold declaration Saturday, vowing to overthrow Moscow's military leadership. ...read more

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Published on Jun 24, 2023 06:11 PM IST

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group are deployed in a street near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The group is headed towards Moscow and has already claimed control of two key Russian cities.(REUTERS)

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Published on Jun 24, 2023 06:11 PM IST

Policemen guard an area near an office of the 'PMC Wagner Centre', which is associated with the owner of the Wagner private military contractor, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday. The 62-year-old Wagner chief’s audacious challenge to Russian president Vladimir Putin, comes as he accused the Russian top leadership of launching missile strikes against his forces.(AP)

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Published on Jun 24, 2023 06:11 PM IST

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group are deployed near a local circus in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia.(REUTERS)

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Published on Jun 24, 2023 06:11 PM IST

A military column of Wagner private mercenary group drives along M-4 highway, which links the capital Moscow with Russia's southern cities. The feud between Prigozhin and the Russian defence ministry dates back a few years, however, the crisis escalated after the defence ministry's demand to have military contractors to sign contracts before July 1.(REUTERS)

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Published on Jun 24, 2023 06:11 PM IST

Prigozhin's criticism of the top military brass is in stark contrast with more than two decades of rigidly controlled rule by President Vladimir Putin without any sign of infighting among his top lieutenants. In a statement released on Friday, the Wagner boss said he was ready to find a compromise over the contract but ‘they (Russian defence ministry) have treacherously cheated us’ and accused them of carrying out rocket strike on Wagner's rear camps.(AP)

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Published on Jun 24, 2023 06:11 PM IST

A man takes down the poster with writing reading “Join us at Wagner”, seen above a highway on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday. The Russian defence ministry, however, refuted Prigozhin's claims and urged Wagner boss to halt the rebellion. They also raised concern over the advantage to Ukrainian troops due to the internal discord within Russia that would ready them for an assault near the eastern hotspot of Bakhmut.(AP)