We reported earlier on what appears to be a coup or an effort to oust the military leadership underway in Russia by Wagner Group private military company (PMC) chieftain Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Prigozhin accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov of deliberately sabotaging the Russian war effort, and so he says he’s acting to hold them responsible “for the genocide of the Russian people.”
“PMC Wagner Commanders’ Council made a decision: the evil brought by the military leadership of the country must be stopped…I’m asking: no one resist. Everyone who will try to resist, we will consider them a danger and destroy them immediately, including any checkpoints on our way. And any aviation that we see above our heads. I’m asking everyone to remain calm, do not succumb to provocations, and remain in their houses. Ideally, those along our way, do not go outside. After we finished what we started, we will return to the frontline to protect our motherland. Presidential authority, Government, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Rosgvardia, and other departments will continue operating as before. We will deal with those who destroy Russian soldiers. And we will return to the frontline. Justice in the Army will be restored. And after this, justice for the whole of Russia.”
Now there are reports of the Wagner group in Rostov. According to Prigozhin, they entered the city without resistance.
They also said that Russian media TASS had confirmed they were Wagner group forces. There are videos of them outside the Russian Southern Military District headquarters.
They are allegedly surrounding and seizing administrative buildings in the city. Prigozhin says that he had to take action to make sure that Russian airstrikes hit Ukrainians and not Wagner Group units:
According to The Kyiv Independent, the Governor asked residents to stay calm. Rostov Oblast Governor Vasily Golubev asked residents to remain at home as reports emerged of soldiers and military vehicles on the streets of the city of Rostov.
This is reportedly Prigozhin outside the Southern Military District Headquarters.
Lipetsk is north of Voronezh, further along to Moscow.
There are also now unconfirmed reports from multiple sources that there’s fighting nearing Voronezh.
Voronezh is halfway to Moscow from Rostov. If they’re already there, they’re already a considerable way to Moscow.
The Wagner group is saying they’re willing to die in the effort.