Tension In Russia As Wagner Group Makes U-turn, Leads Coup Against Putin

Heavy tension in Russia as the country private mercenary group, Wagner, fighting Ukraine makes U-turn on Friday, and redirected his arms against the military generals in Russia.

Videos recorded early Saturday morning and posted few minutes ago showed the Wagner group soldiers have moved into Russia with tanks and other heavy military equipments in the streets of Rostov-on-Don, which is home to Russia military headquarters overseeing the fighting in Ukraine.

Kremlin on Friday responded to the security threat and heightened security arrangements in Moscow and in Rostov-on-Don, which is home to the Russian military headquarters for the Russia southern region that also oversees the fighting in Ukraine.

Governor of southern Russia’s Rostov region had told residents to remain calm and stay indoors.

“Law enforcement agencies are doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of residents of the area. I ask everyone to stay calm and not to leave home unless necessary,” Vassily Golubev said in a message on his Telegram channel just before 4 a.m.

Earlier, Wagner chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin had said his forces had crossed from Ukraine into the Rostov region. 

Kremlin had accused the leader of the Wagner mercenary group of attempting an “armed coup” against Russia.

Prigozhin said that his forces had crossed into Russia from Ukraine and had reached Rostov, saying they faced no resistance from young conscripts at checkpoints and that his forces “aren’t fighting against children.”

“But we will destroy anyone who stands in our way,” he said in one of a series of angry video and audio recordings posted on social media beginning late Friday. “We are moving forward and will go until the end.”

On Friday night, Yevgeny Prigozhin called for an uprising against Russia’s military leaders.

Meanwhile, government of Russia’s Voronezh region has urged residents to avoid the M4 north-south motorway that connects Moscow to southern regions because a military convoy was on the move there, Reuters reported.

Officials said the situation was under control and measures were being taken to keep the public safe.

Wagner mercenary group boss had said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter after it fired on civilians.

Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday accused the Russian military of shelling his fighters and launched a coup against the Kremlin.

“A helicopter has just now opened fire at a civilian column,” the Wagner chief said in an audio message. “It has been shot down by units of PMC Wagner.”

Prigozhin accused Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s Chief of the General Staff , of ordering strikes against his units even though they were moving among civilian vehicles.

The Russian military has ordered Wagner troops to return to their bases and put troops on high alert across the country.

Prigozhin said he has 25,000 fighters ready to battle the Russian army and has called on regular Russian soldiers to join his coup attempt. 

That aside, it was gathered that Ukrainian forces are stepping up their attacks on the frontline to “take advantage” of Wagner’s attempted coup, according to Russia’s ministry of defence.

United States of America President, Joe Biden has been briefed on the chaotic situation in Russia with US officials describing it as “serious”, according to Telegraph news report.

Telegraph quotes a White House National Security Council spokesman, saying: “We are monitoring the situation and will be consulting with allies and partners on these developments.”