Latest Uprising in Russia: Wagner Vehicles Arrive in Lipetsk Region, Six Hours Away from Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the complexity of the situation in Rostov-on-Don after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s forces seized command points in the southern city and called on the Wagner mercenary group to lay down their arms. Putin likened the warlord’s uprising to the collapse of the Russian state in 1917.

In his address to the nation, Putin said Russia would take “decisive measures to stabilise the situation” in Rostov-on-Don, a southern city home to a major Russian command point where Prigozhin claimed to have taken over all military facilities. “The work of civil and military command is essentially blockaded,” Putin said.

Putin said Russia’s armed forces had also “received essential orders” for “additional measures of an anti-terrorist nature” in Moscow and “several other regions.” The step essentially puts the FSB, Russia’s main security service, in charge of the areas and gives it the right to detain anyone, seize anything, or raid any place they see fit.

Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to Putin, has been linked to the Wagner mercenary group, which has been accused of fighting in conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, among other places. The group has been accused of being involved in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and the annexation of Crimea, as well as the 2016 US election interference.

According to reports, Prigozhin’s forces had taken control of a number of key military sites in Rostov-on-Don, including the city’s airport and a number of military bases. The takeover reportedly caused chaos in the city, with residents reporting gunfire and explosions.

Putin made it clear that he views the takeover as a betrayal of Russia, saying “those who organised and prepared the military uprising, who took arms against their comrades, have betrayed Russia. And will pay for it. And I call on those who they are trying to drag into this crime not to commit a fatal and tragic, irreversible mistake, and to make the only right choice — to stop participating in this crime.”

The situation in Rostov-on-Don remains tense, with reports of sporadic fighting and explosions. The Russian authorities have not yet commented on whether they plan to launch a military operation to retake control of the city.

The situation in Rostov-on-Don is the latest in a string of incidents involving Russian mercenaries and paramilitary groups in recent years. The Russian government has been accused of using these groups to carry out covert operations in various parts of the world, including Ukraine, Syria, and Africa. The use of these groups has been seen by some as a way for Putin to project Russian power without risking a full-scale conflict.

Original Story at www.ft.com – 2023-06-24 13:57:39