The Russian military is carrying out an anti-terrorist operation in the southern province of Voronezh in response to a rebellion by the Wagner group.
“The weapons of the Wagner mercenary group are moving through the territory of the Lipetsk region,” Governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram. “I would like to remind you that people are advised not to leave their homes or travel by any means of transport.” Lipetsk is located about 400 km south of Moscow, Russia.
Russia found a large amount of cash at the office of Boss Wagner
Russian media reported that a large amount of money was found at Prigozhin’s office in St. Petersburg. He later confirmed this information, according to Reuters news agency. Prigozhin said the money was used to spend on Wagner’s operations.
Boss Wagner said taking over Russia’s military headquarters in Rostov didn’t cost a bullet.
The head of the Wagner paramilitary organization Yevgeny Prigozhin said today that his forces did not need to fire a single shot when they took control of the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District in Rostov.
However, in an audio message released by Wagner’s press service, Prigozhin said they were hit by artillery and helicopters en route to Rostov.
Mr. Zelensky: Wagner rebellion exposes Russia’s weakness
Writing on Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the rebellion of the Wagner paramilitary organization was exposing many of the weaknesses of the Russian military.
According to him, Russia in the past overwhelmed these weaknesses with propaganda campaigns, but now, nothing can hide that “comprehensive weakness”.
The Ukrainian leader also emphasized that the longer the Russian military is in Ukraine, the country will suffer increasingly serious problems.
Reactions of countries
France, Poland, Germany and the US said they were closely monitoring the situation in Russia.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Kazakhstan is a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which includes many countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. Mr. Tokaye commented that the event is an internal matter of Russia and emphasized that Kazakhstan supports respecting the rule of law and maintaining order.
Earlier, President Putin also spoke by phone with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko and updated the security situation.
Chechnya leaders condemn the actions of tycoon Wagner.
“No matter what task you are assigned, no matter what promises you are given, the security of the state and the cohesion of Russian society at this time comes first! See what our enemies in the West are doing! How to take advantage of the situation…These are the foreseeable consequences of Prigozhin’s treacherous rebellion,” Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on Telegram, sending a message to Wagner fighters.
“I have repeatedly warned that conflict is not the time to voice personal grievances and settle disputes behind the scenes,” he added. “ The rear must always be stable and reliable. Imagine how those in the trenches feel now, with the enemy in front, a dangerous rebellion behind.”
He also said that he fully supports President Putin’s earlier speech.
“This is a military rebellion! There is no excuse for such actions! I fully support every word of President Putin,” Kadyrov declared. “What is happening is not an ultimatum for the Ministry of Defense. This is a challenge for the Russian state, and to combat this challenge, everyone needs to unite around the leadership of the country, from the army, the armed forces, and the military Security forces, governors to civilians”.
“The rebellion must be quelled, and if this requires harsh measures, then we are ready!” he stressed, closing the message.
Boss Wagner declares not to surrender.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Wagner, said he and his fighters would not surrender to a call from President Putin.
The president made the grave mistake of accusing us of treason. We are patriots; we have been fighting for it,” Prigozhin said in a recorded message. “No one will ever come forward and confess on the orders of the President, the FSB or anyone else. Because we don’t want the country to continue living in corruption, deception and bureaucracy.”
President Putin earlier pledged to crush Wagner’s armed uprising after it took control of military facilities in Rostov, southern Russia.
The language Prigozhin uses in the message clearly challenges the Kremlin and Russian security services. He has always been careful to avoid direct criticism or challenge to President Putin’s authority.
Russia fights terrorism in Voronezh.
“The Russian armed forces are taking the necessary operational and combat measures as part of the counter-terrorism operation in the Voronezh region,” Governor Alexander Gusev said today in a statement on social media.
“The Russian armed forces are taking the necessary operational and combat measures as part of the counter-terrorism operation in the Voronezh region,” Governor Alexander Gusev said today in a statement on social media.
An unnamed Russian security source told Reuters news agency that Wagner gunmen had taken control of military facilities in the city of Voronezh, the province’s administrative center, 500 kilometers south of Moscow.
Moscow has not commented on the information. Wagner also took control of the entire military facility in Rostov province, according to a statement from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the private military organization.
Russia’s Security Service (FSB) announced on June 23 that it had opened an investigation into Prigozhin for “inciting sedition” by calling Wagner forces to oppose the Ministry of Defense.
The FSB announced the decision to prosecute after Prigozhin accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of flying to Rostov to direct a missile strike on Wagner’s training camp, causing massive casualties, which the Russian military had negated.
Boss Wagner announced sending 25,000 troops to Rostov to question Minister Shoigu about the attack and asserted that this was “an operation for justice, not a coup” and that this action “did not hinder the Russian army.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Wagner’s rebellion an act of treason. The Russian Defense Ministry called on the fighters of this organization to leave the tycoon Prigozhin, guaranteeing their safety.
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