After taking a crucial military post on Saturday, rebel mercenaries moved northward towards Moscow, just as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin vowed to put an end to the uprising and prevent the outbreak of civil war.
The quickly developing events represent both Russia’s most significant security crisis since the strongman took office in late 1999 and the most serious challenge to the Russian president’s reign to date.
As regular forces started a “counter-terrorist operation” to prevent the rebel advance in the Voronezh area, on the Wagner force’s approach to the capital, Putin’s spokeswoman asserted that the Russian president was still at work in the Kremlin and had not fled Moscow.
Wagner’s private military group was reportedly “moving throughout” the area, according to the governor of the Lipetsk region, whose seat is only 420 miles (260 kilometres) south of Moscow. The governor advised residents to stay inside their homes.
While everything was going on, Ukrainian commanders were enjoying the internal strife among their adversaries in Russia. A deputy defence minister even called it a “window of opportunity” for Kyiv’s most recent counteroffensive to clear its area of Russian forces.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner force and a former close associate of Vladimir Putin, claimed that his forces had taken control of the military command centre and airbase in Rostov-on-Don, the heart of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, and he pledged to depose the highest military officials in Moscow.
“We arrived at Rostov. In an audio clip posted on social media sites, he claimed, “Without firing a shot, we secured the HQ building. Local citizens were supportive of the operation.
“Why does the nation back us? He said his troops had not murdered any soldiers despite coming under fire from army “artillery and then from helicopters” because they had embarked on a “march of justice.”
Putin responded to the challenge in a televised speech, accusing Prighozin of a “stab in the back” that threatened Russia’s own survival. Prighozin’s private army provided shock troops for Moscow’s operation in Ukraine.
“Harsh steps”
Any internal unrest poses a fatal threat to both our nation and statehood. This is a blow to Russia and to our people, added Putin, calling for unity among all Russians.
Putin said of Prigozhin, who rose to prominence as a Kremlin caterer and now commands a private armed unit, “Extravagant ambitions and selfish interests led to treason.”
In front of the law and our people, Putin swore that “all those who knowingly stood on the route of betrayal, who planned an armed uprising, stood on the path of blackmail and terrorist techniques, will suffer unavoidable consequences.”
In order to prevent Prigozhin from starting a “civil conflict,” the FSB security service asked Wagner fighters to place him under arrest.
Ramzan Kadyrov, a powerful figure in Chechnya and a fellow Putin friend, announced that he had sent his own troops to assist put down the Wagner uprising.
According to Kadyrov on Telegram, the Chechen Republic’s National Guard and Defence Ministry have already gone for high-tension areas.
The revolt must be put down, and we are prepared to use harsh measures if necessary.
Belarus sided with Moscow in the crisis as well.
The Belarusian foreign ministry declared that “any provocation, any internal dispute in military or political circles, in the media or in civil society is a gift to the collective West.”
In addition to increasing border security with Russia, Latvia said it would not accept any refugees trying to escape the upheaval.
Emergency services reported that three fatalities and around a dozen injuries occurred in Kyiv, Ukraine, following what authorities claimed to be a nocturnal assault of 40 Russian cruise missiles and at least two attack drones.
Conflict in society
Following Putin’s speech accusing him of treason, Prigozhin fired a second broadside.
“The president is utterly wrong about treason against the motherland. We love our country and are patriotic, said Prigozhin. “Nobody plans to surrender themselves at the president’s, the FSB’s, or anybody else’s request.
One of the most important logistical bases for Russia’s offensive in Ukraine is its headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said the uprising indicated Russia’s was failing as he watched events in Russia as his own forces carried out a sluggish counteroffensive.
“Russia’s vulnerability is clear. Complete weakness,” he declared.
And the more chaos, suffering, and issues Russia causes for itself later, the longer it keeps its troops and mercenaries on our soil. It is also evident that Ukraine can keep Russian instability and wickedness from spreading throughout Europe.
