Wagner chief calls for COUP against the Kremlin after claiming hundreds of his mercenaries were killed by Russian missile strikes – as Moscow vows to crackdown on ‘armed mutiny’
The chief of the Wagner mercenary group has called for a coup against the Kremlin after claiming hundreds of his mercenaries were killed by Russian missile strikes – with Moscow now vowing to crackdown on the ‘armed mutiny’.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin accused Russia of killing a ‘huge number’ of its forces in strikes and has now vowed to retaliate.
Prigozhin, 62, whose men have bolstered Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, has ramped up his verbal attacks against President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, including questioning the very need for the military operation.
Tensions between Moscow and the private military company are rapidly rising as Prigozhin continues to engage in a war of words with Moscow.
Prigozin has now said: ‘The council of commanders of PMC Wagner has made a decision – the evil that the military leadership of the country brings must be stopped.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured speaking on video released by Prigozhin Press Service today), 62, has accused Russia of killing a ‘huge number’ of its forces in strikes and vowed to retaliate
Prigozhin said that the Russian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on PMC Wagner forces
‘We were ready to make concessions to the defence ministry, surrender our weapons.
‘Today, seeing that we have not been broken, they conducted missile strikes at our rear camps. A huge number of our fighters, our comrades died,’ he said in a series of furious audio messages released by his spokespeople.
Russia’s FSB security services has now launched a criminal probe into calls to stage the ‘armed mutiny’.
‘In connection with these statements, Russia’s FSB has opened a criminal case into calls to stage an armed mutiny,’ the National Anti-Terror Committee said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies, which added: ‘We demand that illegal actions be immediately halted’.
He warned Russians against resisting his forces and called on them to join him, adding ‘there are 25,000 of us’.
The Russian defence ministry denied the claims about the strikes, saying the statements ‘do not correspond to reality’, and calling them a ‘provocation’.
‘The Russian armed forces continue to carry out combat missions’ in Ukraine, the ministry added.
Earlier today, Prigozin said Moscow’s forces were retreating in Ukraine’s east and south following Kyiv’s counteroffensive. That directly contradicted Putin’s account that Ukraine was suffering ‘catastrophic’ losses and that there was a lull in fighting.
‘We are washing ourselves in blood,’ Prigozhin said.
‘No one is bringing reserves. What they tell us is the deepest deception,’ he added, referring to the Russian military and political leadership.
After years of operating in the shadows, Prigozin has in recent months admitted to running the elusive mercenary group and even interfering in US elections.
His forces, bolstered by tens of thousands of prison recruits, played a central role in Russia’s capture of the Donetsk region town, Bakhmut, the longest and likely bloodiest battle of the conflict.
However, this week he accused Moscow’s top brass of deceiving Russians about the offensive in Ukraine.
‘Why did the special military operation begin? … the war was needed for the self-promotion of a bunch of bastards,’ he said.
Rarely has such a controversial figure shot to this degree of prominence on the Russian political stage under Putin.
Prigozhin rose from a modest background to become part of the inner circle around Putin.
He spent nine years in prison in the final period of the USSR after being convicted of fraud and theft. In the chaos of the 1990s, he began a moderately successful business selling hot dogs.
From there he fell into the restaurant business and opened a luxury location in Saint Petersburg whose customers included Putin, then making the transition from working in the KGB to local politics.
The catering company he founded at one point worked for the Kremlin, earning Prigozhin the soubriquet of ‘Putin’s chef’.
However, in recent months, Prigozhin has become embroiled in a bitter power struggle with the defence ministry.
He has accused the Russian military of attempting to ‘steal’ victories in Ukraine from his forces, and slammed Moscow’s ‘monstrous bureaucracy’ for slowing military gains.
Wagner’s presence has been reported in conflict zones including Syria, Libya, Mali, and the Central African Republic, where it has been accused of abuses and capturing state power.
Wagner boss ‘declares was on the Russian Ministry of Defence’
‘PMC Wagner Commanders’ Council made a decision: the evil brought by the military leadership of the country must be stopped.
They neglect the lives of soldiers. They forgot the word ‘justice’, and we will bring it back.
Those, who destroyed today our guys, who destroyed tens, tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers will be punished.
I’m asking: no one resist. Everyone who will try to resist, we will consider them a danger and destroy them immediately, including any checkpoints on our way. And any aviation that we see above our heads.
I’m asking everyone to remain calm, do not succumb to provocations, and remain in their houses. Ideally, those along our way, do not go outside.
After we finished what we started, we will return to the frontline to protect our motherland.
Presidential authority, Government, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Rosgvardia, and other departments will continue operating as before.
We will deal with those who destroy Russian soldiers. And we will return to the frontline.
Justice in the Army will be restored. And after this, justice for the whole of Russia.’
Source: Read Full Article
