Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, accuses the Russian army of bombing his troops. His troops control military installations in the city of Rostov. The Russian president speaks on state television of betrayal and mutiny.
A chronology of events
- The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Russian military leadership under Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday night of bombing his troops. The attacks killed a “very large” number of Wagner mercenaries.
- During the night, Prigozhin and his troops crossed the Russian border and arrived in the southern Russian city of Rostov. He declares that he will control all military installations in the city. The headquarters of the Russian military command for the south of the country is located in Rostov.
- Prigozhin threatened to march on Russia if Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov do not come to him. His action is not a military coup.
- The Russian Ministry of Defense asked fighters from the Wagner mercenary group to refuse allegiance to their boss, Prigozhin.
- Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee has declared Moscow and surrounding areas on anti-terrorist alert.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks of mutiny and betrayal in a televised speech.