2023-06-24 06:02:08
The head of the group of Russian mercenaries Wagner declared in absentia once morest the Russian Defense Ministry, Yevgeny Prigozhinaffirmed on Saturday (06.24.2023) to have under control the General Staff of the Russian forces in the city of Rostov, in the south of the country.
“We are in the General Staff, 7:30 am Moscow time (04:30 GMT), we control the Rostov military installations, including the airfield,” he said in a video posted on his Telegram account.
This Saturday, Russia announced that it was reinforcing security in various regions in the face of Wagner’s rebellion.
Anti-terrorism measures in Moscow
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced “anti-terrorist measures” were adopted in the capital following the head of the Wagner paramilitary group rebelled once morest the Russian military command. Meanwhile, authorities in the Rostov and Lipetsk regions also announced additional security measures.
Videos circulating online in Russia show gunmen surrounding administrative buildings in the southern city of Rostov, with tanks mobilized in the center.
The Russian state agency TASS reproduced photos of tanks in front of the headquarters of the Southern Military District, in Rostov On Don. Image: Erik Romanenko/TASS/dpa/picture alliance
The head of the paramilitary group previously said that his troops had entered through the Rostov region. A video posted on social media was the first confirmation that Prigozhin was in Rostov, the AP agency said.
“Regarding the information coming from Moscow, anti-terrorist measures aimed at strengthening security are being taken,” Moscow Mayor Sobyanin said on social media.
Opponent asks to support paramilitaries
Russian opposition businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky on Saturday urged the Russians to help the head of the Wagner group in his rebellion once morest Moscow’s military command.
“We need to help now and then, if necessary, we will fight too,” Khodorkovsky, a former oil magnate estranged from the Kremlin, said on social media. He stated that it is important to support “even the devil” if he decides to take on the Kremlin.
For his part, the governor of Lipetsk, Igor Artamonov, said he was meeting with members of the FSB security service, which opened an investigation into calls for an “armed rebellion.”
Prigozhin accused Moscow of attacking his forces with missiles on Friday and vowed to respond.
He urged the Russians to join his forces in punishing the military command, in the boldest challenge once morest President Vladimir Putin since the start of the offensive in Ukraine last year.
jc (efe, afp, ap)
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