The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said he will “go all the way” to bring down Russia’s military leadership after the Kremlin accused him of “armed rebellion”.
This is coming following a rift between them on how the war in Ukraine has been fought, with Mr. Prigozhin criticizing Russia’s military leadership in recent months.
The Wagner Group is a private army of mercenaries that has been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine.
Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that his forces had shot down a Russian military helicopter after it “opened fire on a civilian convoy”. No location was given and the incident has not been verified.
In May, Prigozhin shared a video where he stood amidst the bodies of his troops and berated Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu – as well as Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov – for not providing them with enough ammunition.
“Those who killed our lads, and tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers [in the war in Ukraine] will be punished,” Prigozhin said in an audio message posted to the social media platform Telegram.
“I ask you not to resist. Anyone who does will be considered a threat and destroyed. That goes for any checkpoints and aviation on our way.
“Presidential power, the government, the police, and Russian guard will work as usual.
“This is not a military coup, but a march of justice. Our actions do not interfere with the troops in any way.”
The Russian mercenary leader accused the Russian military of attacking its troops with a missile. He vowed to punish them, though no evidence was given.
Authorities denied the strike and ordered him to stop his “illegal actions”. Civilians were also warned to stay indoors.
Russia’s state-owned news agency TASS said that security in Moscow was stepped up on Friday night at prime locations in Moscow, including government buildings and transport facilities, with President Vladimir Putin, receiving constant updates on the situation.
The governor of Russia’s Lipetsk region also asked civilians not to travel to south.
Lipetsk is around 280km (175 miles) north-east of the nearest Ukrainian border, and more than 500km north of Rostov.
Responding to the development within Russia, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said;”We are watching.” While the White House said it was monitoring the situation and would consult with US allies.
Military heads in Russia also reacted to the Wagner leader’s move.
“We are of one blood, we are warriors,” Gen Sergei Surovikin, the deputy head of the Russian forces in Ukraine said in a video. “You mustn’t play into the enemy’s hands at a time that is difficult for our country.”
Lt Gen Vladimir Alekseyev, criticized Yevgeny Prigozhin, saying his action was “a stab in the back of the country and the president”.
Russian state media reported that the FSB, Russia’s security service, has opened a criminal case against Prigozhin, accusing him of “calling for an armed rebellion” and attempting to start an armed civil conflict in Russia.
The FSB was said to have also urged Wagner’s fighters to disobey their commander’s orders and to take steps to apprehend him.
Russia’s defense ministry also debunked Prigozhin’s claims in a statement, saying “all reports by Prigozhin spread on social media” of Russian strikes on Wagner camps were “not true and are an information provocation”.