Russian turmoil has reportedly led to civil conflict and a criminal investigation was said to be underway after a mercenary working on behalf of President Vladimir Putin turned his forces back on Russia with some serious accusations of his own.
With the invasion of Ukraine underway for 16 months, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary head and founder of the Wagner Group working on behalf of Russia, has sparked debate over a possible military coup. After accusing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering a rocket strike against the Wagner Group, the Associated Press reported on Prigozhin’s claim to have taken control of a key military headquarters which Putin called a “stab in the back.”
“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders,” the Russian president had said in a statement Saturday, according to the AP.
Prigozhin has posted videos of himself and his roughly 25,000 men from Rostov-on-Don, the Russian military’s headquarters for the war in Ukraine, where he declared among other things, “We control the military facilities of Rostov, including the airfield. The Chief of the General Staff fled from here as soon as he found out that we were coming.”
Wagner leader Prigozhin has taken control of the military headquarters in Rostov:
“We control the military facilities of Rostov, including the airfield. The Chief of the General Staff fled from here as soon as he found out that we were coming.”
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 24, 2023
Taas, a state news agency, had reported that the Federal Security Services National Anti-Terrorism Committee was preparing to open a criminal investigation of Prigozhin and charge him with armed rebellion.
“The allegations circulated on behalf of Yevgeny Prigozhin are groundless. In connection with these statements, the FSB of Russia has initiated a criminal case into the call for an armed rebellion,” their statement read. “We demand an end to illegal actions.”
Putin himself called the actions from Wagner Group “a stab in the back of our country and our people” as he vowed “decisive actions” in an address to the Russian people.
Putin calls Wagner mutiny “an attempt to subvert from within. This is treason. This is a stab in the back of our troops and the people of Russia.” pic.twitter.com/1JwXI9ziSq
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 24, 2023
Included in the decisive actions, CNN reported that Moscow was under severe restrictions that included document checks, monitoring telephone calls, restricted communications and limited movement through the streets.
The National Anti-Terrorism Committee asserted, “In order to prevent possible terrorist acts on the territory of the city of Moscow, the Moscow and Voronezh regions, a counter-terrorist operation regime has been introduced.”
Meanwhile, Prigozhin has justified his actions and has made his own demands of Shoigu and chief of the general staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov.
In one of the mercenary leader’s statements, he contended, “Those who destroyed our lads, who destroyed the lives of many tens of thousands of Russian soldiers, will be punished. I ask that no one offer resistance,” the New York Post reported.
“There are 25,000 of us, and we are going to figure out why chaos is happening in the country,” he went on. “We will consider anyone who tries to resist a threat and quickly destroy them.”
“We have arrived here, we want to receive the chief of the general staff and Shoigu. Unless they come, we’ll be here — we’ll blockade the city of Rostov and head for Moscow,” the leader warned.
According to Fox News, Prigozhin also contended, “This is not a military coup, but a march of justice. The evil embodied by the country’s military leadership must be stopped.”
While concern over a potential coup was bandied about, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took to Telegram to bolster support from the Russian people for Putin and declared, “We have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One. And he urged everyone to unite.”
“The enemy is just waiting for our civil strife,” she said referring to outside countries like Ukraine. “Behind you are children, women, your parents! Behind you is the country. Behind you is everything that you defend with weapons in your hands. Behind you are the graves of those who did not spare themselves. You are future generations. Hold on and don’t give in.”
“Today we are all being tempted, our strength tested. Don’t give in! Together with the President!” Zaharova rallied. “May God keep us!”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.