The leader of the Russian private military group "Wagner," Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated following an announcement by the Federal Security Service opening a criminal case against him for "calling for armed rebellion" and urging for his arrest, that his soldiers crossed the border from Ukraine into Russia, asserting that they will destroy anyone who obstructs their path. Prigozhin mentioned that his forces are in the city of Rostov, southern Russia, and they will continue until the end.
In a video clip shared today, Saturday, Prigozhin called on Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov to meet him in Rostov-on-Don. In another video published by a pro-Wagner channel on Telegram, Prigozhin was seen sitting between two senior generals, including Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, who had previously urged Prigozhin to reconsider his campaign to overthrow senior officers.
Prigozhin stated in the video: "We have arrived here and we want to meet the Chief of Staff and Shoigu... If they do not come, we will be here... We will besiege the city of Rostov and head to Moscow."
Russian news agency TASS reported early on Saturday that security measures had been tightened in Moscow following the Wagner leader's call for "armed rebellion" against the military leadership. TASS quoted an unnamed security official saying, "Security measures in Moscow have been strengthened... the most important sites are under heightened security," as well as "state facilities and transport installations."
Prigozhin announced that his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter and, in a new voice message, claimed: "Now a helicopter fired on a civilian convoy, and it was shot down by Wagner units," without specifying the location of the incident. In contrast, the governor of Rostov called on residents of the region to stay at home following the Wagner group rebellion. Groups of Wagner forces were seen storming government buildings in Rostov amidst significant public concern.
The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement directed at Wagner fighters, stating that Prigozhin "deceived them and lured them into a criminal adventure." In a statement published on Telegram, the ministry urged fighters to contact representatives and law enforcement agencies, promising to ensure their safety.
A Russian security source told Reuters that "Wagner fighters have taken control of all military installations in Voronezh, 500 kilometers south of Moscow."
The Russian Anti-Terrorism Committee announced on Saturday that a counter-terrorism regime had been imposed in Moscow and the surrounding area amid the apparent rebellion by the Wagner private military group.
Prigozhin had accused the Russian army on Friday of shelling his troops' camps, alleging that the bombardment resulted in the deaths of 2,000 of his fighters, with the bodies hidden to conceal the losses, which the Russian army denied, pledging retaliation against what he described as "evil." He urged the army to rise against the military leadership, claiming that his actions do not amount to a military coup and that "most of the army supports us strongly."
In a series of voice messages on his official Telegram channel, Prigozhin said: "Those who destroyed our youth, who ruined the lives of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers will pay." He added: "There are 25,000 of us and we will find out why there is chaos in our country." As the long-standing confrontation between him and the Defense Ministry reached a peak, the ministry issued a statement asserting that Prigozhin's accusations were "false and constitute a media provocation." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin is fully aware of the situation, emphasizing that all necessary measures will be taken.
Prigozhin, who has a judicial record, faces potential prosecution upon arrest. An investigation was initiated against Prigozhin under Article 279 of the Russian Criminal Code regarding organizing "armed rebellion." The Russian Prosecutor General's Office announced it would provide a legal assessment of his actions. The office stated that the investigation department of the Federal Security Service had formally opened a criminal case against Prigozhin. The law provides for a prison sentence of 12 to 20 years for this crime.
Russian authorities accused Prigozhin of seeking to ignite a "civil war" in the country due to his call for military personnel to rise against their leadership. The Federal Security Service stated that "Prigozhin's statements and actions are, in fact, a call to initiate an armed civil conflict on the territory of the Russian Federation and a stab in the back to Russian soldiers fighting against pro-fascist Ukrainian forces." The Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service called on Wagner units not to follow their founder's orders and to take measures to detain him.
The conflict between the Russian leadership and Prigozhin is longstanding and not merely a recent development. On Friday, Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russian forces in the military operation in Ukraine, issued a plea to Wagner forces, urging them to cease their "rebellion" and return to their barracks "before it is too late." In a video recording broadcast by a journalist on Russian state television on Telegram, Surovikin said: "We are of the same blood, we are warriors... I urge you to stop, the enemy is just waiting for the deterioration of the internal political situation in our country; it is impossible to play into the enemy's hands at this difficult time for the country; it is necessary to lay down arms and return to deployment sites, to resolve all issues peacefully under the command of the supreme leader, the will and orders of the elected president of Russia must be obeyed."
General Vladimir Alexeyev also urged Wagner to withdraw, saying: "Whatever your intentions, this is a stab in the back to the country and the president, a greater blow to Russia's image; the armed forces cannot think like this; such provocation can only be carried out by enemies of the country." The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the armed forces continue to carry out combat missions along the front line against the Ukrainian armed forces in the area of the special military operation. The ministry warned that "the Kyiv regime is preparing for an attack on the tactical axis of Bakhmut, taking advantage of Prigozhin's provocation," pointing out that Russian forces are targeting the enemy with aerial and artillery strikes on the Bakhmut front.
The Ukrainian army has stated that it is monitoring the conflict emerging between Wagner and the Russian military leadership. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense tweeted: "We are monitoring the situation." Military intelligence chief Kirillo Budanov stated that "Wagner" and the Russian army have begun to "devour each other for power and money."
A spokesperson for the U.S. presidency stated on Friday that the White House is monitoring the situation in Russia following the uprising of the Wagner group against the Russian military leadership, noting that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the developments there. Adam Hodge, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, added: "We are monitoring the situation and will consult with our allies and partners regarding these developments."
Furthermore, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyak, described Prigozhin's actions as "an anti-terror operation," stating: "Everything has just begun in Russia." Podolyak tweeted: "The divide among the elites is very clear; agreeing and pretending that everything is stable will not work." He added: "One side must inevitably lose: either Prigozhin... or the anti-Prigozhin forces."
Polish President Andrzej Duda indicated that he "consulted with the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defense about the situation in Russia," stating: "Warsaw is monitoring the situation." Duda tweeted: "Regarding the situation in Russia, we conducted consultations this morning with the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defense as well as with allies," adding: "We are continuously monitoring the unfolding events beyond our eastern borders."
The British Defense Ministry noted that "the Russian state is facing its greatest security challenge in recent times" following what it described as the movement of Wagner forces toward Moscow. The ministry added in a regular intelligence update: "In the coming hours, the loyalty of Russian security forces, especially the Russian National Guard, will be crucial in determining the path this crisis will take. This represents the greatest challenge to the Russian state in recent times."
The British Foreign Office also warned of the risk of disturbances across Russia in an update to its travel advice on Saturday, following moves by the Wagner group. The French presidential palace stated that "President Emmanuel Macron is closely monitoring the situation in Russia," affirming that "France's focus remains on supporting Ukraine." A spokesperson for the German government stated that "Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government is closely monitoring the situation in Russia."
