Wagner mercenary Chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has led his troops out of Ukraine and into a key city south of Moscow.
Prigozhin confirmed on Saturday, June 24, 2023, that he and his troops reached Rostov-on-Don after crossing the border from Ukraine.
He posted a video of himself at the Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed that his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city. Other videos posted on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets.
Prigozhin averred that his aim was to punish Defense Minister Sergei Shogun after Russian government forces attacked Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery.
According to the Wagner Boss, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu at which they decided to destroy the mercenary group. The Defense Ministry, however, denied attacking the Wagner camps.
Speaking during an emergency televised address, Putin called the uprising by Prigozhin, whom he did not mention by name, a “betrayal” and “treason.”
“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders.”
Vladimir Putin
Putin added that he would do everything to protect Russia, and that “decisive action” would be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. He also called for unity in the face of the revolt.
Meanwhile, in an audio message on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin said, “We are patriots of our motherland. We have been fighting and are fighting now.”
“And nobody is going to – as demanded by the President, the FSB (Russia’s security service) or anyone else – to admit our guilt. Because we don’t want our country to live anymore in corruption, lies and bureaucracy,” he added.
As a result of Wagner presence in Rostov, authorities declared a “counterterrorist regime” in Moscow and its surroundings, allowing restricted freedoms and tightening security in the capital.
Russian Officials Affirm Allegiance To Putin
After Putin’s address, officials and state media personalities in the country sought to publicly reiterate their allegiance to the Kremlin and urged Prigozhin to back down.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, said that the Duma lawmakers “stand for the consolidation of forces″ and support Putin.
Volodin iterated that “Wagner fighters must make the only right choice: to be with their people, on the side of the law, to protect the security and future of the Motherland, to follow the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.”
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova noted in a Telegram post that “we have one Commander-in-Chief. Not two, not three. One.″
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechnya region who used to side with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military leadership, also expressed his full support of “every word of” Putin.
“We have the Commander-in-Chief, elected by the people, who knows the situation to the slightest detail better than any strategist and businessman,” Kadyrov said. “The mutiny needs to be suppressed,” he added.
World Leaders Monitor Current Situation
A number of Presidents have disclosed that they are monitoring the situation in Moscow.
Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda noted in a tweet that he has held consultations with the Prime Minister, defense ministry as well as with allies about the situation in Russia, adding that Warsaw was monitoring the situation.
“The course of events beyond our eastern border is monitored on an ongoing basis,” he added.
Additionally, the Elysee announced that French President Emmanuel Macron is following the situation in Russia closely. “We stay focused on the support to Ukraine,” it added.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas disclosed that Estonia is closely following the development of the situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies.
“I can assure that there is no direct threat to our country. Border security has been strengthened. I also urge our people not to travel to any part of Russia,” Kallas added.
At the White House, National Security Council Spokesperson, Adam Hodge said, “We are monitoring the situation and will be consulting with allies and partners on these developments.”
