A source close to the leadership of the Russian-controlled part of the Donetsk region in Ukraine reported today, Saturday, that a convoy of approximately five thousand fighters from the Wagner private military group is approaching the outskirts of Moscow, led by the group's senior commander, Dmitry Utkin. The source, who has proven to be trustworthy in the past, mentioned that Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has fewer than 25,000 men at his disposal, with about five thousand of them in Rostov in the south, a city Prigozhin claimed to have seized, which is critical for Russian war supplies in Ukraine. The source noted that Wagner's plan for Moscow is to position its fighters in a densely populated area.
Fire in Fuel Tank
The governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gussev, stated today that "emergency services are trying to extinguish a fire that broke out in a fuel tank inside an oil depot." He mentioned, "More than 100 firefighters and 30 units of equipment are working at the fire site," adding that "pressure has been relieved from two tanks containing petroleum derivatives (aviation fuel), each with a capacity of five tons, in an oil depot on Dmitrov Street. Firefighting efforts are proceeding normally." A Russian security source told Reuters earlier today that fighters from the Wagner private military group have seized military facilities in Voronezh, which is about 500 kilometers south of Moscow. Reuters was unable to independently verify those statements.
Navigation Suspension
The official Russian news agency TASS reported today, Saturday, that authorities in Moscow announced that "navigation on the Moskva River," which runs through the Russian capital, has been temporarily suspended amid the rebellion by the Wagner military group. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin noted that "there are no restrictions on the movement of cars and trucks to and from the city," emphasizing that "security inspection measures have been intensified."
In the meantime, Sobyanin requested that residents refrain from traveling around the city as much as possible due to the declaration of an anti-terror operation, stating that the situation is "difficult." He added in a statement that "Monday will be a holiday from work with some exceptions, in order to reduce risks."
