Wagner mutiny updates: In a major development, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner on Saturday, in a staunch warning to the leadership, warned the Putin government to topple the country's Defence Ministry amid an internal feud between the private army and armed forces.
Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin-- a Russian oligarch, mercenary chief, and a close confidant of Russian president Vladimir Putin, in a video message posted on a social media platform, warned his forces would "destroy everything" in their way.
The Wagner boss claimed that the agitated forces already crossed the border from war-torn Ukraine and entered Russia where the armed group was prepared to go "all the way" against Moscow's military.
Although security was heightened in Moscow and in Rostov-on-Don, which is home to the Russian military headquarters for the southern region and also oversees the fighting in Ukraine, local media reports claimed that forces started accumulating near crucial buildings.
Prigozhin charged with armed mutiny, to face up to 20 years in prison
According to the Russian state news agency, TASS, a criminal case over charges of organization of armed mutiny was initiated against Wagner PMC founder after his Telegram channel published his claims that the Russian Defense Ministry hit PMC units with airstrikes and his calls for supporters to rise against the national government.
Also, the news agency claimed that the ministry has refuted the claims of capturing any military buildings. The Ministry added that Russian forces continue to carry out missions in the special military operation area.
Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced that President was informed about the situation around Prigozhin and "necessary measures are being taken." According to the spokesman, all Russian security agencies report to Putin about measures being taken around the clock.
Russia facing a dearth of weapons: Wagner chief
Notably, the development came nearly two months after a video popped up on multiple social media platforms where the head of the private military company was seen unleashing an expletive-laden challenge to Russia’s military leadership. In the video, the Wagner chief said, "We are lacking 70% of the needed ammunition!”
Further, as the video went on, he lamented how thousands of Russian soldiers were killed in the ongoing war. Also, he blamed defence chiefs for “tens of thousands” of Wagner casualties.
‘Stab in the back’
Meanwhile, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) press office, in a statement condemned the act and dubbed his statements called for an armed civil conflict on Russian territory.
"Prigozhin’s statements and actions effectively constitute calls for an armed civil conflict on Russian territory and a stab in the back of Russian servicemen fighting with pro-Nazi Ukrainian forces," the press office said.
