Wagner Group is making a move on the Russian capital, with multiple reports and videos now confirming Wagner convoys are headed toward Moscow, going north from Rostov region. At the same time, Chechen groups loyal to Putin are now sending their own armed convoys toward Rostov-on-Don, which has several key installations under the control of Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused of 'treason' by the Kremlin.
Reuters is reporting, "Mutinous Russian mercenary fighters barreled towards Moscow on Saturday after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russia’s military firing on them from the air but seemingly incapable of slowing their lightning advance." Little to no significant resistance is being observed while Wagner convoys blow through makeshift roadblocks. Some observers say Wagner fighters have been spotted within a mere few hours outside the capital.
"Reuters saw troop carriers and a flatbed truck carrying a tank careening past the city of Voronezh more than half way to Moscow, where a helicopter fired on them," the outlet noted. "But there were no reports of the rebels meeting any substantial resistance on the highway."
The Lipetsk governor has also confirmed armed Wagner forces are rapidly moving across the region, advancing in the direction of Moscow. While the Russian government erects barriers, it's unclear which military units have been mustered as Prigozhin threatens the capital.
Along with roadblocks of construction trucks and 18-wheelers, there are reports suggesting roads are being destroyed to block the insurrectionists' progress:
Per regional reports:
NEXTA, an independent media outlet founded in Belarus that covers news in eastern Europe and Russia, reported that authorities were destroying the main roads in the Lipetsk region to keep Wagner Group tanks and vehicles from approaching Moscow. Other sources have published similar videos of excavators tearing up roadways.
Notes on recent updates, and a word of caution, over the last two hours via Mario Nawfal:
- Worries of the Russian Nuclear Warheads moved to Belarus weeks ago
- Wagner forces continue their advance to Moscow with limited strikes by the Russian Air Force
- Reports of Putin and other officials leaving Moscow and heading to Saint Petersburg based on the movement of Military VIP aircrafts. TASS, which is Gov controlled media outlet, reported that Putin is heading to Saint Petersburg, but Putin's Press Secretary refuted those reports. It is very unusual and rare to see such a disconnect between TASS and the Kremlin.
MY THOUGHTS:
- This is a military coup, we can no longer dispute this, and things are moving VERY rapidly and are not looking good for Putin.
- We are seeing limited military clashes, showing likely defections among Russian forces
- Almost EVERYTHING right now can't be verified and should be taken with a grain of salt
Meanwhile, clashes could be imminent between Chechens loyal to Putin and Wagner mercenaries, which will be a nightmare scenario for surrounding civilians in the Rostov region...
Unverified reports that Wagner has begun arrests of Chechen and other military forces...
In his first speech addressing the crisis of Wagner's armed rebellion on Saturday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to crush what he called Yevgeny Prigozhin's "betrayal". Southern governors, for example Alexander Gusev who oversees the city of Voronezh, have since confirmed armed clashes between regular military forces and Wagner fighters within Russian territory. He described necessary "combat measures" as part of counter-terror operations in the southern region.
What was unclear by Friday night is now becoming very clear as of Saturday: all hell is breaking loose in this first significant moment in over two decades of Putin's iron grip on power being threatened by armed mutiny.
"Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood and to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia and to our people," Putin said in the televised speech. "This battle, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the unification of all forces."
"What we have been faced with is exactly betrayal. Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to treason," Putin said, referring to Prigozhin, head of the most powerful private military firm in Russia. "All those who consciously stood on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, stood on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, before the law and before our people," Putin vowed.
He further in fiery language denounced the "stab in the back of our country and our people," after Prigozhin the day prior declared war against the defense ministry, urging all Russians to join his 25,000 fighters as they seek to "stop" and overthrow Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other top commanders.
In response to Putin's blistering speech, Prigozhin released a Telegram statement calling the president "deeply mistaken" regarding his assessment of betrayal of the motherland, refusing to surrender. The audio message released by his press service said as follows:
"Regarding the ‘betrayal of the motherland,’ the president is deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our Motherland, we fought and are fighting, all the fighters of the PMC Wagner."
“And no one is going to turn themselves in at the request of the president, the FSB or anyone else,” he added.
This marks the first time he's directed criticism precisely in response to Putin, as before he appeared to carefully avoid direct references to the Russian leader in his denunciations of military planning and Kremlin decision-making.
Below summarizes fast-moving events of the last few hours:
- Putin 5 min speech: accuses Prigozhin of betrayal, vows decisive action
- Wagner controls facilities in Rostov & Voronezh, M4 highway disrupted. Rebellion continues
- Chechen Kadyrov mobilizes to help Putin. Russia FM warns of ‘civil strife’
Civilians have reportedly been ordered away from all military command centers in the now Wagner-held city center of Rostov-on-Don.
The Wagner chief in his response harped on the familiar theme of the defense ministry's "corruption, deceit, and bureaucracy" and emphasized that his own fighters are patriotic and doing their duty.
“When we were told that we were at war with Ukraine, we went and fought. But it turned out that ammunition, weapons, all the money that was allocated is also being stolen, and the bureaucrats are sitting [idly], saving it for themselves, just for the occasion that happened today, when someone [is] marching to Moscow," he said.
It is the second time since Russian authorities (the FSB) declared Prigozhin was engaging in 'armed munity' that the Wagner chief declared a "march of justice" on Moscow. As for the capital (and other major cities), the military and security services have been ordered by the Kremlin to secure the streets and beef up their presence.
Update:
Update(1325ET): An emerging Russian state media headline: Prigozhin Agrees to Stop PMC Wagner March, Start De-Escalation After Lukashenko's Mediation...
Belarusian president held talks with Prigozhin today. Lukashenko says that Prigozhin has agreed to "stop the movement of armed persons on the territory of Russia and to take further steps to deescalate."
Prigozhin has reportedly accepted Lukashenka's proposal to stop the movement of PMC Wagner, according to Russian state media TASS. Reuters is also reporting the Kremlin-backed statements.
As for the Belarus-related ceasefire deal, there's been no initial confirmation from Wagner Telegram or media channels.
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