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Wagner Group Russia Coup Updates: Putin, Lukashenko hold another call after thwarted mutiny
Wagner Group Russia Coup Updates: Months of bitter feud led to Wagner Group chief rebel against Russia's military leadership. Check out updates here
Wagner Group Russia Coup updates: Wagner Group Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his heavily armed forces overnight pulled out of Rostov region, where they had taken over Russia's southern military headquarters. The move came after the Wagner group decided to halt approaching Moscow under a deal which defused the challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin....Read More
A deal was brokered by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko which stated that the Wagner group, a private army of mercenaries that spearheaded much of Russia's offensive in Ukraine, would go back to the base in Ukraine in return for the guarantee of their safety and Prigozhin would move to Belarus.
Prigozhin had vowed to ‘go all the way’ on Saturday to topple the military leadership in Moscow after he accused the Russian military of launching a deadly strike on his troops. In an audio message, the 62-year-old mercenary leader said that his troops will ‘destroy everything that stands in our way’ and warned Russians against resisting his forces and called on to join him. “This is not a military coup, but a march of justice,” he added. The extraordinary development came as a result of Prigozhin's bitter feud with Moscow's military leadership over the months.
Turkey's Erdogan urges Russia's Putin to act with common sense
President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday and urged him to act with common sense, the Turkish presidency said, after Russian mercenary fighters began an armed mutiny overnight.
Putin, who described the Wagner Group's actions as "treason" in an emergency televised address, said anyone who had taken up arms against the Russian military would be punished.
Erdogan was among the first leaders to hold a phone call with Putin after his speech on Saturday.
(Reuters)
Russian foreign ministry warns Western countries against using Wagner mutiny for their goals: Statement
Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it warned Western countries against using the Wagner mercenary group's mutiny "to achieve their Russophobic goals".
(Reuters)
Wagner military column passes Russian city of Voronezh
Wagner military column passes Russian city of Voronezh
Putin vows to defeat Wagner as rebels advance on Moscow
Rebel mercenaries advanced north towards Moscow after seizing a key military base Saturday, just as Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's vowed to defeat the revolt and head off the threat of civil war.
The rapidly escalating events mark the most serious challenge yet to the Russian president's rule -- and Russia's most serious security crisis since the strongman came to power in late 1999.
Putin's spokesman insisted the Russian leader was still at work in the Kremlin and had not fled Moscow, as regular forces launched a "counter-terrorist operation" to halt the rebel advance in the Voronezh region, on the Wagner force's route to the capital.
(AFP)
Parts of St. Petersburg's main road blocked: Reports
Parts of St. Petersburg's main road have been blocked.
Latvia tightens border security, no entry for Russians
Latvia's president-elect on Saturday said the Baltic state had tightened its border security in response to the mutiny underway in Russia and would not be admitting Russians.
"Latvia is closely following the developing situation in Russia... Border security has been strengthened, visa or border entry from Russians leaving Russia due to current events won't be considered," Edgars Rinkevics said on Twitter.
"Latvia will not issue humanitarian or other types of visas," added the president-elect, who is also still the foreign minister.
Latvia had already last year stopped issuing new visas to Russian citizens, but it had until now made an exception for humanitarian visas.
(AFP)
Travel restrictions imposed in Kaluga region south of Moscow: governor
Travel restrictions imposed in Kaluga region south of Moscow: governor
(AFP)
Turkey's Erdogan urges Putin to act with common sense
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday and urged him to act with common sense, the Turkish presidency said on Saturday, after Russian mercenary fighters began an armed mutiny overnight.
It said the two discussed recent developments in Russia and Erdogan told Putin that Turkey was ready to do its part to help bring about a peaceful solution to the situation.
(Reuters)
Wagner fighters promised amnesty if they lay down their weapons; need to act fast: Russian lawmaker
Wagner fighters have been promised an amnesty if they lay down their weapons but they need to act fast - Russian lawmaker tells TASS
Wagner troops have entered Lipetsk: Governor
Wagner troops have entered Lipetsk, Governor says. They are moving closer to Moscow.
Rebel Russian mercenaries barrel towards Moscow
Mutinous Russian mercenary fighters barrelled towards Moscow on Saturday after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russia's military firing on them from the air but seemingly incapable of slowing their lightning advance.
Facing the first serious challenge to his grip on power of his 23-year rule, President Vladimir Putin vowed to crush an armed mutiny he compared to Russia's Civil War a century ago.
The fighters of the Wagner private army run by former Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin were already most of the way to the capital, having captured the city of Rostov and set off on an 1,100 km (680 mile) race to Moscow.
(Reuters)
US to coordinate with allies amid Russia crisis: State Dept
Washington will stay "in close coordination" with its Group of Seven allies amid the unfolding crisis in Russia, where Wagner mercenaries launched a mutiny, officials said Saturday.
"The United States will stay in close coordination with Allies and partners as the situation continues to develop," State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement, adding that support for Ukraine "will not change."
(AFP)
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman says Iran supports rule of law in Russia
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said on Saturday that Iran supported the rule of law in the Russian federation.
Wagner Chief Directly Challenges Putin as Russia Crisis Spirals
Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces won’t surrender after Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced their military rebellion as “treason” in a crisis that’s rapidly spiraling into the most serious threat to the Kremlin leader’s authority in decades.
The insurrection is without precedent in Putin’s nearly quarter-century rule in Russia, jolting a country simultaneously trying to sustain a war in Ukraine that’s the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. It’s unfolding against the backdrop of a Ukrainian counteroffensive across some of the area where Wagner’s mercenaries deployed for months in the war’s longest and bloodiest battle.
(Bloomberg)
People in Rostov approach mercenaries to thank them, shake hands
People in Rostov approach mercenaries to shake hands and thank them.
EU activates crisis response centre in response to developments in Russia
The European Union has activated its crisis response centre in order to respond to developments in Russia.
Belarus says the Wagner rebellion is a 'gift' to the West
Belarus said on Saturday that the Wagner rebellion was a 'gift' to the West.
Police officers in Moscow urgently being called back from vacation: Reports
Police officers in Moscow are urgently being called back from vacation, reports say.
Private jets flown out of Moscow towards St Petersburg: Reports
Several private jets reported to have flown out of Moscow towards St Petersburg.
Putin signs law allowing detention of people violating martial law for 30 days
Russia President Vladimir Putin signs law allowing detention of people who violate the martial law for 30 days, TASS says
Pro-Putin Chechen fighters begin moving towards Rostov
Pro-Putin Chechen fighters begin moving towards Rostov
Putin speaks to Erdogan on the phone, informs about the situation in the country
Putin spoke on the phone with Erdogan, informed about the situation in the country in connection with an attempted armed rebellion.
The Turkish President expressed full support for the steps of the Russian leadership, the Kremlin notes.
German Foreign Minister speaks to Foreign Ministers of G7 about situation in Russia
German Foreign Minister has spoken to Foreign Ministers of G7 about situation in Russia, German Ministry Statement confirmed.
Latest updates on the Russian turmoil:
- Wagner forces are advancing through Lipetsk region, around 450 kilometers from Moscow.
- Russian air force has struck Wagner convoys and defensive positions are being set up around the capital, Moscow.
- Prigozhin claims his troops have been greeted as 'liberators' and says was able to take military HQ in Rostov without a fight.
- Presidential plane appears to have flown out of Moscow, however Kremlin says Putin is still in the capital.
- Poland raised military to high alert, Latvia tightens border and EU continues to monitor situation.
- UK military intelligence says rebellion represents 'most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times'
Russian forces construct sandbag fortifications in Moscow Oblast
Russian forces commence construction of sandbag fortifications in Moscow Oblast.
