Wagner chief says he ordered his Russian mercenaries to halt march on Moscow
The head of the private Russian military force Wagner said Saturday he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood.
Prigozhin said that while his men were just 200 kilometers from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.” Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, who brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia and advanced toward Moscow earlier Saturday.“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment,” Putin said. “The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders.
Prigozhin’s private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles, or more than 1,000 kilometers, south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was suffering “full-scale weakness” and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from “the spread of Russian evil and chaos.”
Prigozhin’s private army has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. His goals weren’t immediately clear, but the rebellion marks an escalation in his struggle with Russian military leaders, whom he accused of botching the war in Ukraine and hobbling his forces in the field.
In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that “a huge number of our comrades got killed.” Prigozhin said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, but there was no independent confirmation.
After Putin’s address, in which he called for unity, officials sought to reiterate their allegiance to the Kremlin and urged Prigozhin to back down. Zelensky noted the rebellion in his Telegram channel and said “anyone who chooses the path of evil destroys himself.” Ukrainian soldier Andrii Kvasnytsia, attending a funeral for a comrade, said Prigozhin’s intentions toward Ukraine might be worse than Putin’s, but that the infighting would still benefit the country.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine security chief claims Wagner boss 'owned by' Russian military officers determined to topple PutinUkraine's national security chief says Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is 'owned by' Russian military officers, and 'the wheels are in motion for Putin's demise.'
Read more »
Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources sayBREAKING: The deputy commander of the Russian group of forces fighting in Ukraine is believed to have been detained days after mercenaries staged a revolt inside Russia, sources tell AP, citing U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence reports.
Read more »
'Purge': Top Russian generals Gerasimov and Surovikin are reportedly missing following Wagner mutinyTwo senior Russian generals have not been seen in public since Wagner Group mercenary chief Yevengy Prigozhin rebelled against President Vladimir Putin's military commanders.
Read more »
Russian elite brace for sweeping Kremlin investigation into Wagner rebellionMembers of Moscow’s elite said they were steeling themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion with officials likely to be interrogated on their links to Wagner paramilitary boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin.
Read more »
Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources sayGen. Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of the Russian group of forces fighting in Ukraine, has been detained days after mercenaries staged a revolt inside Russia.
Read more »
Wagner strikes psychological blow to Russian morale in hitting elite airborne command and control: UK intelThe Wagner mercenary group struck a psychological blow to Russia's elite airborne unit after it downed a 'high value' IL-22M aircraft in its mutiny Saturday.
Read more »