Russia opens case of armed rebellion against mercenary boss – DW – 06/23/2023

Russia’s anti-terrorist watchdog announced Friday that it had opened a criminal case for calls for armed insurrection against Yevgueni Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, after he said he intended to punish the Russian military leadership for attacking its bases.

Statements issued on behalf of Evgeny Prigogine They have no foundation. In response to these reports, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for calls for armed rebellion. We demand immediate cessation of illegal activities,” an official statement quoted by TASS agency said.

“We are 25,000 …” threatens the mercenary boss in the direction of Moscow

“We are 25,000 and we are going to determine the reasons for the chaos reigning in the country (…) Our strategic reserves are the entire army and the entire country,” the head of the defense committee said in an audio message. . MercenariesYevgeny Prigozhin invites “all who wish” to join his men “to put an end to the disturbances”.

Russian news agency TASS reported that President Vladimir Putin remains “aware” of threats by mercenary chief Yevkhuni Prigozhin and is already taking “necessary measures”. A Russian judge would have opened an investigation into Wagner’s employer for attempted military “riots.”

Ukrainian sources posted a video on Twitter showing Russian troops shelling a trench belonging to mercenaries of the Wagner group, destroying and killing the militants. A move denied by the Russian Defense Minister.

War between Russians amid Ukrainian counteroffensive

The tensions come amid a counteroffensive by Ukrainian troops to recapture territory seized by Russia since the start of the military intervention in February 2022. Hours before the crisis erupted, Prigozhin promised that the Russian military would “recoup”. Eastern and southern Ukraine, contrary to the Kremlin’s claims, is where the Kiev counteroffensive failed.

“(The Russian) army is withdrawing in Zaporizhia and Kherson (southern) regions, Ukrainian armed forces are being pushed back”, Russian troops, he said in an interview published on Telegram by his news service. Moscow had “no control, no military victories”, Prigozhin insisted, and the Russian army was “washed in its blood”, referring to the heavy losses suffered by regular troops.

Putin and his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, vow that the military will “repulse” all Ukrainian attacks.

young (efe, spiegel)