Armoured vehicles are seen on a street of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
Rebellious Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin today claimed that he has taken control of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don as part of an attempt to oust the military leadership amid what the authorities said was an armed mutiny.
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Security in several major Russian cities, including capital Moscow, has been tightened after Wagner group claimed control of the military headquarters of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
Terming it "internal treason", Vladimir Putin vowed the harshest punishment against those rebelling. The Russia President also acknowledged that the situation in Rostov is "difficult".
Putin said that "excessive ambitions and vested interests have led to treason", and called the mutiny a "stab in the back". "It is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to defend the Fatherland against such a threat will be harsh," Putin added.
Ukraine said that unrest in Russia spurred by an armed mutiny of the Russian Wagner group presented an opportunity for Kyiv, weeks after announcing a counter-offensive against Russian positions. "What does this mean for us? It is a window of opportunity," said Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar, adding that Russia's military and political leadership: "fight with us and destroy themselves."
Moscow Mayor announced that they are launching anti-terror measures based on the information they have received.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has for months been mired in a feud with the defence ministry, today accused Moscow of targeting his forces with deadly missile strikes and vowed to retaliate.
He vowed to take all necessary steps to topple the country's military leadership and said that his forces would "destroy everything" in their way. With a force of almost 25,000 mercenaries, the Wagner group has taken control of the military headquarters in Rostov and are now planning to march to Moscow.
He urged Russians to join his forces and punish Moscow's military leadership in the most audacious challenge to President Vladimir Putin since the start of the offensive in Ukraine last year.
Russia's FSB security service opened a criminal case against the Wagner chief and called on the Wagner private military company forces to ignore his orders and arrest him.
The showdown marked the most dramatic escalation in a long-running feud between the mercenary leader and Russia's defense establishment that's spiraled into what is the biggest challenge to Putin's authority since he sent troops into Ukraine 16 months ago.
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