Moscow: Amid the ongoing armed rebellion in Russia by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow’s mayor warned Saturday that traffic could be restricted in parts of Russia’s capital as part of heightened security prompted by the mercenaries.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin asked the city’s residents to refrain from using their cars amid the counter-terrorism operation in Moscow and the surrounding region that authorities introduced earlier Saturday. He also declared Monday a non-working day for most people, with the exception of public servants and employees of some industrial enterprises. Sobyanin noted that all key city services were put on high readiness and advised residents to report any emergencies.
Wagner Group has entered Lipetsk province
The governor of Russia’s Lipetsk province said Saturday that the Wagner mercenary group has entered the region. The Lipetsk region is about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow and much farther toward the capital than Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner forces appeared during the night. Authorities “are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population. The situation is under control,” Governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram. He did not give details about Wagner's presence.
Earlier in the day, Prigozhin claimed his troops entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don without a single shot and says that no one was killed during what he calls a “march of justice.” Prigozhin said in a new audio statement on Saturday that "we didn’t touch a single conscript, we didn’t kill a single person on our way.” He added that the Russian air force targeted his troops, but they still managed to seize military headquarters in Rostov “without a single gunshot.” His claims could not be independently verified. The Russian authorities haven’t reported any casualties so far, either.
Shortly before Prigozhin released his statement, an explosion was heard near the military headquarters his Wagner group apparently controls in Rostov. It was not immediately clear where the explosion occurred, how big it was and whether it caused any damage. Wagner’s armed rebellion is racing towards Moscow after Prigozhin took control of the military headquarters in Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin has said his forces have been attacked by artillery and helicopters since he launched his mutiny.
Mercenaries could get hold of Russia’s vast nuclear arsenal, says Kremlin
A senior Kremlin official has warned that a successful rebellion by the Wagner group would mean the mercenaries getting hold of Russia’s vast nuclear arsenal and raise an existential threat to the entire world.
“The history of mankind hasn’t yet seen the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons under control by bandits,” Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. “Such a crisis will not be limited by just one country’s borders, the world will be put on the brink of destruction.” He added that “we won’t allow such a turn of events.”
Russia warns West against taking advantage
The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned the West against trying to take advantage of the rebellion led by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The ministry said in a statement Saturday that “we are cautioning Western countries against even a hint of using the internal situation in Russia for achieving their Russophobic goals.”
It argued that the mutiny plays into the hands of Russia’s enemies and said that the Russian public stands behind President Vladimir Putin. The ministry said that Moscow appreciates its allies and partners voicing their understanding of the situation.
Kremlin denies Putin has fled Moscow, says he spoke to several foreign leaders
Vladimir Putin’s whereabouts have been thrown into question after an aircraft belonging to the presidency was spotted flying from Moscow to St Petersburg, according to Flight Radar. However, his spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, denied Putin has fled the capital and told reporters the president “is working at the Kremlin”.
The Kremlin says Putin spoke to several foreign leaders on Saturday following the armed rebellion by Prigozhin. Spokesman Peskov said Putin spoke on the phone with the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and “informed his counterparts of the situation.” Putin also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Kremlin statement said the Russian leader informed Erdogan “about the situation in the country related to an attempted armed rebellion,” and the Turkish president “expressed full support for the steps of the Russian leadership.”
Blinken calls G7 allies about Russia situation
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major industrial powers conferred Saturday on the situation in Russia after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed rebellion. The U.S. State Department and German Foreign Ministry gave few details of the discussion, which also included the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
The State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken “reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change." It said that the U.S. “will stay in close coordination” with allies and partners as the situation develops. The G7 comprises the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the U.K.
'Not betraying Russia...president was deeply mistaken'
Earlier in the day, Prigozhin denied allegations by President Vladimir Putin that he is betraying his country and called his fighters "patriots". In an audio message on his Telegram channel, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said: “Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland." He said his fighters would not turn themselves in at the request of Putin, as “we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.”
In a televised address to the nation earlier Saturday, Putin said that “all those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment." He said the armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders. Officials across Russia have rallied behind President Putin, publicly reiterating their allegiance to the Kremlin and urging mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to back down.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, said lawmakers “stand for the consolidation of forces” and support Putin after his address to the nation on Saturday.
He added that fighters from Prigozhin’s Wagner group “must make the only right choice: to be with their people, on the side of the law, to protect the security and future of the Motherland, to follow the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.” Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in a Telegram post that “we have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One. And he urged everyone to unite.”
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya who in the past has sided with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military leadership, also expressed his full support for “every word of” Putin. He said that “the mutiny needs to be suppressed.” So far, no Russian official has spoken out in support of Prigozhin.
