Earlier on Friday, drone footage showed a Russian troop wiped out by a bomb
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Vladimir Putin called an “armed mutiny” by the Wagner Group mercenary force a betrayal and a “death blow” to Russian troops.
In an emergency televised address, the Russian president said anyone who took up arms against his military would be punished.
It comes after Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin called for an armed rebellion overnight and warned in a new video that he and his troops had reached the key Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
Putin said he would do everything to protect Russia and that “decisive action” would be taken.
In the new video on Saturday, Prigozhin demanded that Mr Shoigu and Russia’s top general Valery Gerasimov meet with him at the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don.
“We have come here, we want to receive the chief of staff and Shoigu,” Prigozhin said in the video. “Unless they come, we will be here, blockade the city of Rostov and go to Moscow.”
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee charged Prigozhin with calling for armed rebellion, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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The UK Foreign Secretary says he is monitoring the situation in Russia
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday that Britain was closely monitoring the situation in Russia and was in contact with allies.
“Following the overnight events involving the Wagner Group and the Russian military, we are monitoring the situation closely and in close contact with our allies,” Cleverly said.
British citizens should continue to follow the government’s advice not to travel to Russia, he added.
Wagner Group claims control of key sites in Rostov-on-Don
(EPA)
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 11:28 am
Watch: Wagner boss accuses Moscow of lying to public about Ukraine
Wagner boss accuses Moscow of lying to public about Ukraine
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 11:12 am
Wagner’s boss says he won’t surrender
Rebel Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said Saturday that he and his men would not surrender to President Vladimir Putin’s orders.
(REUTERS)
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 11:02 am
Russian police surround the Wagner Center in St. Petersburg
Russian police have surrounded the Wagner Center in St Petersburg after Yevgeny Prigozhin called for an armed rebellion against the Kremlin.
Watch the full clip here:
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 10:46 am
Map: Inside the Russian Wagner group location and road to Moscow
Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group have been branded “treasonous” by Vladimir Putin after taking over the military center of Rostov-on-Don.
The escalation marks one of the most explosive episodes in the country’s war saga after the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused the Kremlin of deliberately bombing Wagner’s troops.
However, Britain’s Ministry of Defense has now described the delivery as “the most significant challenge to the Russian state” in a series of events that will put the city firmly on the map.
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 10:37 am
Convulsions in Russia: Reactions of Foreign Governments
Here are the reactions of foreign governments to the news out of Russia, where President Vladimir Putin vowed on Saturday to crush what he called an armed uprising after rebel mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said he had seized control of a city from the south
STATEMENT OF THE BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTRY
In an update to travel advice it continued to advise against all travel to Russia, the ministry said.
“There are reports of military tensions in the Rostov region and the risk of further unrest across the country. In addition, there is a lack of flight options available to return to the UK.”
THE POLISH PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA, ON TWITTER
“Regarding the situation in Russia, this morning we held consultations with the prime minister and the defense ministry, as well as with allies.
“The course of events beyond our eastern border is continuously monitored.”
FRENCH PRESIDENCY
The Elysee Palace said President Emmanuel Macron is closely following the situation in Russia.
“We remain focused on supporting Ukraine,” Elisi said.
German government spokesman
“We are closely monitoring events in Russia.”
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY GIORGIA MELONI
“Prime Minister Meloni is closely following events in Russia, which show that his assault on Ukraine is causing instability in Russia.”
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 10:16 am
Putin briefs the Belarusian president on the situation in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on the situation in Russia on Saturday, according to a message posted on the official Telegram channel of the Belarusian presidency.
Putin has vowed to crush what he calls an armed uprising after rebel mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said he had seized control of a southern city as part of an attempt to oust the military leadership.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation following the Wagner group’s decision
(AP)
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 09:56
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman calls on Russians to rally around Putin
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Saturday called on Russians to rally around Russian President Vladimir Putin after what Putin called an “armed mutiny” by Wagner’s mercenary group.
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 09:31
Wagner’s boss shares a video from Rostov-on-Don as he claims to control the military headquarters
The owner of the private military contractor Wagner who called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister claimed in a video that he and his troops have taken control of the military command center in Rostov- where-Don.
He claimed that his forces had military facilities in the city under their control, including the airfield.
Footage from a media outlet aligned with the contractor showed its chief speaking with Russian military officials and reiterating his goal to remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Wagner’s boss shares a video from Rostov-on-Don as he claims to control the military headquarters
The owner of the private military contractor Wagner who called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister claimed in a video that he and his troops have taken control of the military command center in Rostov- where-Don. Yevgeny Prigozhin posted a video of himself at Russian military headquarters monitoring the fighting in Ukraine. He claimed that his forces had military facilities in the city under their control, including the airfield. Footage from a media outlet aligned with the contractor showed its chief speaking with Russian military officials and reiterating his goal to remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 09:10
Defense Ministry update: Military showdown between Prigozhin and Putin
Here’s the latest defense intelligence update from the UK Ministry of Defence:
Maryam Zakir-HussainJune 24, 2023 08:44
