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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.
‘Nobody plans to turn themselves in’: Wagner group chief
Chief of Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, responding to Putin's order, said on Saturday, that nobody planned to turn themselves in.
Chechen leader sends soldiers to help Putin fight Wagner Group
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says he has sent Chechen soldiers to fight against the Wagner Group.
Italy PM closely follows events in Russia
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Is closely following events in Russia, which show that its assault on Ukraine is causing instability within Russia, said a statement from her office.
(Reuters)
Head of Russia's Voronezh region says Russian army taking action there amid Wagner mutiny
The governor of Russia's Voronezh region said on Saturday that the army was taking "necessary military measures" in the region as part of a counter-terrorist operation declared after an armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group.
Earlier on Saturday, a Russian security source told Reuters that Wagner fighters had taken control of military facilities in the city of Voronezh, about 500 km (310 miles) south of Moscow. Reuters could not independently confirm that assertion.
(Reuters)
Skirmish reported from parts of Rostov area over Wagner's action
Russian nationals started confronting the Wagner fighters in occupied city of Rostov-on-Don over their action against the military leadership in Moscow. Citizens got into tussle with Wagner mercenaries on the streets.
Dead end for Wagner? Kremlin closes bridge on the way to Moscow
Putin briefs Belarus ally on situation in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday briefed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on the situation in Russia, according to a message posted on the Belarusian presidency's official Telegram channel.
Putin has vowed to crush what he calls an armed mutiny after rebellious mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said he had taken control of a southern city as part of an attempt to oust the military leadership.
Germany closely following the developments in Russia
Germany is closely following events in Russia, where the Wagner mercenary group has claimed control of a key military headquarters in the south, a government spokesman said on Saturday.
"The government is closely following the events in Russia," he told AFP.
Russian foreign ministry calls on citizens to rally around Putin
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Saturday called on Russians to rally around Russian President Vladimir Putin, after what Putin called an "armed mutiny" by the Wagner mercenary group.
Wagner fighters clear civilians off the streets in Rostov-on-Don
Crimea's governor, appointed by Russia, is with Putin
The Russian-appointed governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov has stated that, “The Crimean People and Security/Military Forces across Crimea are with President Putin.”
Heads of Luhansk, Donetsk extend support to Putin
The head of the Republic of North Ossetia as well as the heads of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics have given their support to Russian President Putin and his fight against Wagner. They said that any of their citizens within the Wagner PMC Group should refuse any orders given to them by Yevgeny Prigozhin.
French President following the developments closely: Elysee
Emmanuel Macron is closely monitoring the situation in Russia after the Wagner mercenary group launched an armed mutiny against the Kremlin's forces, the French president's office said Saturday.
"The president is following the situation very closely. We remain focussed on supporting Ukraine," the Elysee said.
No more recruitment in Wagner Group! Billboard with job ads being taken down in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin has branded the Wagner Group as ‘traitors’ and vowed strict action against those responsible for ‘armed mutiny’. Meanwhile, billboards with recruitment ads for the mercenary group are being taken down in Moscow.
Wagner-alike ‘Storm Z’ extends support for Prigozhin
Russian reserved force ‘Storm Z’, established by the defence ministry, published a video of support for Prigozhin and said they are ready to come to his side. Storm Z is composed of inmates conscripted by force from Russian prisons, after the MoD prohibited Prigozhin to recruit.
UK says Russia facing ‘greatest security challenge’ amid Wagner rebellion
Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday that the Russian state was facing its greatest security challenge of recent times, following what it said appeared to be a move by Wagner Group forces towards Moscow.
"Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia's security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how this crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times," Britain's defence ministry said in a regular intelligence update. (Reuters)
Poland held meeting amid rising tension in Russia after ‘armed mutiny’
Poland's president held consultations with the prime minister and defence ministry about the situation in Russia, he said on Saturday, adding that Warsaw was monitoring the situation.
"In connection with the situation in Russia, this morning we held consultations with the prime minister and the ministry of defence, as well as with allies," Andrzej Duda wrote on Twitter.
"The course of events beyond our eastern border is monitored on an ongoing basis," he said.
United States is ‘monitoring the situation’ amid ‘armed mutiny’ by Wagner Group
The White House was following the situation in Russia after the head of the Wagner mercenary group called for an "armed mutiny" against Moscow top brass, a spokesman said Friday, adding that President Joe Biden had been briefed.
"We are monitoring the situation and will be consulting with allies and partners on these developments," National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said.
Does it need translation? Putin's body language says it all!
Several Russian soldiers surrender in Voronezh
Russian soldiers surrendered en masse to Wagner PMC in Voronezh. Wagner now controls both Rostov and Voronezh. Wagner is now approaching Krasnodar and Volgograd without any resistance.
Russian President Putin says rebellion is like a ‘stab in the back’; vows ‘brutal action’ for those responsible
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video address to the nation said the ‘armed mutiny’ by Wagner Group is like a ‘stab in the back’ of the country. Calling it an act of treason, Putin said anyone who had taken up arms against the Russian military will be punished.
Public events in several cities cancelled until futher notice
Amid Wagner Group's armed rebellion in Russia, several cities including Moscow, Voronezh and Rostov have cancelled all of their public events until further notice.
While we're at it, let's have some coffee!
In a fresh video clip, a Wagner fighter is seen ordering coffee at a store.
Are the Wagner mercenaries heading to Moscow?
Telegram channels, that give realtime updates on Russia-Ukraine crisis, have claimed that the ‘musicians’ (tag used for mercenaries) have entered Voronezh city, situated towards north from Rostov-on-Don.
Wagner rebels getting late? Because their tank got stuck!
One of the tanks brought along with Wagner Group rebels got stuck at the exit gate of a building. Probably lost all ways to release the heavily-armed vehicle, the mercenaries seem to have been standing surrounding it.
