The long-running feud between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the creator of the private military corporation "Wagner," and the Russian Ministry of Defense came to a head on the evening of June 23. Prigozhin claims that with the consent of Sergei Shoigu, the Russian army personally conducted a missile strike on the Wagner camps (the Ministry of Defense denies this). Prigozhin then threatened to lead a "march of justice," which many interpreted as an effort to organize a military coup. The Russian Federal Security Service has initiated an investigation against Prigozhin for an armed coup attempt.
Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video message says that the Russian Ministry of Defense is misleading President Vladimir Putin and the general public about the progress of the Ukrainian conflict. According to him, hundreds of the Russian army's best-trained men were killed on the first day of the battle as a result of Shoigu's mistake.
The city of Rostov-on-Don was taken by "Wagner" fighters on the night of June 23. The city center was taken by armed persons loyal to Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Local media reports that they surrounded the Southern Military District headquarters, the municipal government, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The "Wagner" founder himself said that his people had taken control of all military installations in the city, including the "airfield." Tanks can be seen throughout the streets. Vasiliy Golubev, the governor of the Rostov area, has encouraged inhabitants of Rostov-on-Don not to "go to the city center and, if possible, not to leave their homes."
Prigozhin met with the deputy leaders of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the General Staff on June 24. He said that the mercenaries would "block Rostov and go all the way to Moscow" unless Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov were turned over to Wagner.
Prigozhin also claimed on the night of June 23 that his fighters shot down two Russian Defense Ministry helicopters. The first helicopter "fired on the civilian convoy" and the second struck the "Wagner" attack team, informs Prigozhin.
In a statement delivered against the backdrop of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion on June 24, President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke of treason. He mentioned the difficult situation in Rostov and stated that the rebel organisers will face unavoidable punishment.
"We are dealing with betrayal, exorbitant ambitions, and personal interests that led to treason, treason against our country and our people, and the cause for which fighters fought and died in the trenches alongside our other units and subunits. The leaders of the Wagner group, the heroes who freed Stalingrad and Artemovsk, as well as the cities and villages of Donbass, fought and died for Novorossia, for Russian reunification. Their name and glory have been betrayed as well," Vladimir Putin stated.
"As the President of Russia and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, as a citizen of Russia, I will do everything in my power to defend the country, protect the constitutional order, the lives and safety, and the freedom of the citizens. Those who organised and prepared this military rebellion, who raised weapons against their comrades-in-arms, have betrayed Russia and will be held accountable for it. I urge those who are being drawn into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic mistake. Make the only right choice—to cease participation in criminal actions," - says the President of Russia
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