As the mercenary group ‘Wagner’ launches what President Putin has called an “armed mutiny”, we explain what exactly is happening in Russia.
What has happened so far?
The mercenary group set out to advance toward Moscow along what is known as the M4 corridor with the following events unfolding:
- Following talks with Belarusian President Lukashenko, Prigozhin has been exiled to Belarus.
- Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin has confirmed that he is ceasing any movement toward Moscow following a deal brokered by Belarusian President Lukashenko. In a statement, Prigozhin said: “They wanted to disband Wagner. We set out on June 23 for the “March of Justice”. In a day we marched just short of 200 km from Moscow. During this time, we have not shed a single drop of the blood of our fighters. Now is the moment when blood can be shed. Realizing all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed, we are turning our columns around and leaving in the opposite direction, to our field camps, according to the plan.”
- Ukraine claim to have recaptured the city of Krasnohorivka, Donetsk Oblast which has been occupied by Ukrainian separatists since 2014
- Wagner troops have made it onto the M4 corridor towards the capital facing steep opposition
- They have captured the Russian army’s headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don, home to 1 million people and the epicenter for military campaigns in Ukraine
- They have also taken control of the military HQ in Voronezh, where explosions and fighting have been witnessed
- An attack on an oil depot in the region of Voronezh has been confirmed (see video below)
- Excavators have been witnessed digging ‘trenches’ and holes along the M4 corridor, where trucks and construction vehicles were also used to block the road from incoming Wagner troops
- In the city of Lipetsk, north of Voronezh on the way to Moscow, civilians have been warned to stay indoors
- Russia has claimed to have fired on a fleet of Wagner vehicles
- A Russian fighter jet targeted a number of civilian trucks, mistaking them for the mercenary group
- Members of the paramilitary group have been seen to be laying land mines in order to repel Russian forces
- Moscow authorities have suspended all outdoor events until the 1st July
- Mayor of Moscow has urged people to stay indoors
Read: Ukraine 101: What you need to know about war in the country
Since the inception of the Donbas war in Ukraine, Russia has turned increasingly more towards paramilitary groups, but ‘Wagner, a mercenary group headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin has remained its favoured partner.
What is going on in Russia?
Prigozhin was formerly a restaurateur nicknamed “Putin’s chef”, catering mostly to the Kremlin, but had also served statesmen including former President George Bush. He quickly networked through the government of Russia eventually landing a role leading the mercenary group Wagner. They initially emerged from the Donbas War supporting the Russian government’s efforts to capture Ukraine utilising the support of its local population. It then expanded operations under the helm of the Kremlin into Mali, Madagascar, Libya, and Syria where they supported President Bashar al Assad’s regime.
Prigozhin had accused the Russian armed forces of carrying out strikes on his troops, something the Kremlin has denied. Though in the past, Wagner’s leader claimed that they were not being given the tools and equipment needed to carry out effective warfare in Ukraine, claiming that preferences were given to the Russian national guard.
As a consequence, it seems, Prigozhin has launched an offensive against the Russian armed forces, presumably to topple Russian leader Vladamir Putin. In a speech addressing the citizens of Russia, he said:
“I am addressing citizens of Russia, the personnel of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and security services, and the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repulsing enemy attacks and doing it heroically – I know this as I spoke once again with the commanders of all sections of the frontline last night. I am also addressing those who were dragged into this criminal adventure through deceit or threats and pushed onto the path of a grave crime – an armed mutiny. I am also addressing those who were dragged into this criminal adventure through deceit or threats and pushed onto the path of a grave crime – an armed mutiny”
Putin has not been named directly by Prigozhin, though his actions and that of Wagner appear to be a direct challenge to Putin’s role as president of Russia.
What has Wagner group said and how did Putin respond?
President Putin has called the actions of the group one of “betrayal” and “treason” while Prigozhin called for a “rebellion” against the army, though stopped short of claiming that he is seeking to overthrow the Russian president.
Wagner’s chief has said he wishes to meet with Russia’s defense minister, saying he will have no hesitation to occupy the streets of Moscow unless his demands are met. He has called for a “march of justice” in order to remove the armed forces commanders, to which Russia’s FSB launched a national criminal case against Prigozhin.
Where is Putin now?
Nobody knows though eyewitnesses claim he was seen leaving in a presidential helicopter towards the area of Valdai.
More to follow…
Photo credit: Alexander Davronov
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